KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Brett Eibner wondered whether anything could surpass the Kansas City Royals’ rally Friday night, when they overcome a four-run deficit to beat the Chicago White Sox in his major league debut.

He did not have to wait long to find out.

Eibner singled to cap the biggest ninth-inning comeback in Royals history, a seven-run rally off David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle that lifted the World Series champions over the Chicago White Sox 8-7 Saturday.

“I didn’t think I could beat yesterday and, sure enough, we come around and do this,” said Eibner, who also doubled to helped spark the inning. “It’s super fun. There’s nothing like it. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that.”

Kansas City’s Salvador Perez was injured in the ninth when third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert slid with a forearm and elbow into the left thigh of the All-Star catcher, who called off Chien-Ming Wang (3-0), settled under Adam Eaton’s foul popup about 30 feet from the plate near the third-base line and snagged the ball just before he was hit.

Perez was taken for a MRI after the game and the extent of his injury was not announced. The preliminary diagnosis was a bruised left thigh.

“Now it’s a waiting game,” Eric Hosmer said. “We won the game today, but that will be the more important win if we find out nothing serious with him happened. Salvy is our guy. He’s the leader of this team. He’s an All-Star. He’s everything. When you see a guy like that goes down, it fires you up. You want to pick up the pace cause you’ve got to pick him up.”

Perez immediately raised his right arm, signaling for assistance. Two minutes later, Perez hobbled off the field with his arms draped over the shoulders of manager Ned Yost and head athletic trainer Nick Kenney.

“The good thing about it, at least as far as we could tell, there was no structural damage to his knee,” Yost said. “So, that was what I was worried about. He sustained a pretty good quad contusion Cheslor suffered a mild quad contusion, when they hit.”

Held to six hits through eight innings, the Royals doubled their total in the 32-minute bottom of the ninth and overcame a six-run deficit for the first time since beating San Francisco on June 22, 2008. The inning included four walks, two of them intentional, and four runs scored with two outs.

“There’s no shot clock, there’s no time clock,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said after Chicago lost for the 13th time in 17 games. “If you can’t close it out, that’s what happens. Today we couldn’t close it out.”

Eibner had the second and third hits of his big league career. The designated hitter drove in the game-ending run with a full-count single on the 10th pitch of his at-bat against Kahnle (0-1). Eibner grounded a 98 mph fastball on the low, outside corner to the right of a diving Jose Abreu at first, and Drew Butera, who had replaced Perez, raised an arm in triumph as he crossed the plate.

Robertson relieved with a 7-1 lead in a non-save situation and threw a called third strike past Paulo Orlando before Cuthbert singled and Eibner doubled on a fly that dropped behind right fielder Adam Eaton, who lost the ball in the sun.

A walk to Omar Infante loaded the bases, and Robertson forced in a run when he walked Alcides Escobar after getting ahead 1-2 in the count.

Whit Merrifield, who made his big league debut May 18, hit a hard grounder up the middle that deflected off Robertson’s glove and into right field for a single as two runs scored, cutting the deficit to 7-4. Lorenzo Cain hit into a run-scoring forceout to shortstop, easily beating second baseman Brett Lawrie’s relay to first to avoid what would have been a game-ending double play. Eric Hosmer followed with an RBI double to deep right-center, pulling Royals within a run.

Kahnle relieved Robertson, who threw 29 pitches, and Butera doubled on his third offering, driving the ball on one hop to the left-field wall.

Butera advanced on a wild pitch. Orlando was intentionally walked and took second on defensive indifference, and an intentional walk to pinch-hitter Jarrod Dyson loaded the bases for Eibner, who fouled off three 2-2 pitches, took a ball and fouled off another before the winning hit.

Tyler Saladino and Avisail Garcia each homered and drove in three runs as Chicago built its lead. The bottom four White Sox hitters — Brett Lawrie, Alex Avila, Garcia and Saladino — went a combined 8 for 16 with six runs.

“I wouldn’t say I’m shocked or surprised we didn’t win that game,” Avila said. “I’ve seen comebacks like that. There’s not a whole lot that surprises me. You have to make sure you’re prepared for things like that. But, at the same time, I’m absolutely upset that we didn’t win.”

Chicago starter Carlos Rodon gave up one run and six hits in five innings in a no-decision. Royals starter Yordano Ventura allowed seven runs, six earned, and nine hits in seven innings. Ventura is 2-4 with a 7.16 ERA in his past six starts.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Chris Young (right forearm strain) was reinstated from the disabled list and put in the bullpen. LHP Brian Flynn was optioned to Triple-A Omaha, where the Royals want him to transition back to being a starter. … DH Kendrys Morales, who has not played since Tuesday because of swelling on his right middle knuckle, probably will return Monday against Tampa Bay.

UP NEXT

White Sox: LHP Chris Sale (9-1), who leads the AL in wins, complete games (three) and opponents’ batting average (.179), is to start Sunday’s series finale.

Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez (5-4) has a 2.06 ERA at home this season and a 6.55 ERA on the road.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Eric Hosmer was happy to be back at Kauffman Stadium after a rough road trip.

He had three hits, including a home run, and drove in four runs as the Kansas City Royals rallied to defeat the Chicago White Sox 7-5 on Friday night.

That is one more RBI and matched the number of hits he had on the just concluded six-game trip when he was 3-for-25 (.120).

He laced a two-run single with two outs in the seventh to put the Royals ahead. He homered in the sixth and drove in a run in the first inning with a groundout.

“I faced (Zach) Duke a couple of times and he’s got really good offspeed stuff,” Hosmer said of his seventh inning hit. “I told myself that’s what he likes to go to. I just wanted to see it. I put something in play, trying to make something happen and finally had some luck on my side, our side.”

The White Sox used five pitchers in the Royals’ four-run seventh with Matt Albers (1-4) taking the loss. The inning included Brett Eibner’s double, his first major league hit, and Whit Merrifield’s two-run single.

“Seemed like anything we tried to do it didn’t work,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “Not only can they swing it, but they’ve got some guys that can, if they put the bat on it, can really beat some things out.”

Royals starter Danny Duffy retired the first 16 batters he faced on 59 pitches before giving up five runs on his next 17 pitches.

“For 5 1/3 innings, that’s the best I’ve ever seen him pitch,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “I didn’t see that coming.”

Avisail Garcia, Dioner Navarro and Austin Jackson hit consecutive singles with one out in the sixth to load the bases for Melky Cabrera, who cleared them with a first-pitch grand slam. It was his first grand slam since July 29, 2011, at Cleveland, while with the Royals.

Todd Frazier then took Duffy deep to left. He is tied for the American League lead with 15 home runs. It was the first time this season the White Sox have hit back-to-back home runs.

“That’s probably the best-worst game, I’ve ever had,” Duffy said.

Peter Moylan (2-0) picked up the victory with a scoreless seventh. He is 6-0 since his last loss on Sept. 7, 2011, while with Atlanta. Wade Davis worked the ninth, striking out two, for his 13th save in 14 opportunities.

The Royals added a run in the eighth when Paulo Orlando, who extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single, scored on Jarrod Dyson’s sacrifice fly.

“What are you going to do? There’s not much to say,” Frazier said. “They kept clawing back. They came after us that one inning. They kept chipping away. That’s what they do. We’ve got to find a way to put the fire out and we couldn’t do it.”

White Sox right-hander Miguel Gonzalez allowed three runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: DH Kendrys Morales was out of the lineup with a sprained right middle finger. . RHP Chris Young (right forearm strain) could come off the DL soon. He will be used as a reliever when he is activated after going 1-5 with a 6.68 ERA in seven starts.

MAKE UP DATE

The White Sox-Royals game that was rained out Thursday has been rescheduled for Sept. 19, an afternoon start at Kauffman Stadium.

ROTATION CHANGE

The White Sox have opted to start LHP Chris Sale on Sunday against the Royals, instead of holding him back for a Monday start against the New York Mets. Manager Robin Ventura acknowledged since it was a division game “does” play into the decision. LHP Carlos Quintana will start Monday at New York.

UP NEXT

White Sox: LHP Carlos Rodon will try to beat the Royals in consecutive starts. He held the Royals to two runs and eight hits over 6 2/3 innings on Sunday.

Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura is 3-0 with a 3.57 ERA in four home starts.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — While the Chicago White Sox game at Kansas City was postponed because of rain Thursday night, the Royals are looking on how to fill the gap of possibly losing All-Star third baseman Mike Moustakas for the season to a knee injury.

No makeup date was announced, but it will not be rescheduled as part of this series.

It was the second rainout this season for the Royals.

White Sox right-hander Miguel Gonzalez and Royals left-hander Danny Duffy, the scheduled starters Thursday, will pitch Friday.

Moustakas has a torn right anterior cruciate ligament. He injured his knee Sunday in a collision with teammate Alex Gordon in Chicago. Moustakas was originally diagnosed with a bruised knee, but an MRI on Wednesday night detected the tear. Gordon is out a month with a broken right wrist. The Royals will likely be looking to acquire help via a trade.

“We feel we are prepared to win with this current group, regardless of the injuries.” Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. “But it is no different than any other year. We know we have to massage our roster, make changes to our roster. I have no idea what opportunities will present themselves to us as we move forward into this season.

“This game changes, as we all know, minute to minute, day to day. This time last year we weren’t certain that Ben Zobrist or Johnny Cueto were going to be available.”

The Royals acquired both in late July trades and they helped them win their first World Series since 1985.

White Sox shortstop Jimmy Rollins has hit .231 in 33 games with only a .289 on-base percentage, but manager Robin Ventura is expecting more from the veteran.

“I think with where he’s at, you can’t just run him out there 14 days in a row,” Ventura said. “I don’t think you’re going to get as an effective guy if you’re doing that. So, I think part of it is to be able to get him some rest and making sure he’s fresh when he goes out there.”

Rollins has batted in the second slot 31 times, but was slated to hit seventh with Melky Cabrera, who is hitting .322 in May, batting second before the rainout

“I think moving him around you get a little protection with him being a switch-hitter,” Ventura said. “You’re going for it a little with the righties at the top, and having Melky in there. Melky’s been swinging it really well. Melky gives a little protection in case they want to bring in a righty, that you have somebody there. And then Jimmy right behind that other group there in the middle.”

The revised rotation will have White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon and Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura starting Saturday, and White Sox right-hander Mat Latos and Royals right-hander Edinson Volquez will be the probable pitchers for Sunday.

The White Sox are in first place in the AL Central, holding a two-game lead over the Royals and a half-game advantage over the Cleveland Indians.

White Sox ace Chris Sale was scheduled to start Sunday, but will be moved back to Monday against the New York Mets. It will be the second straight series the Royals have dodged Sale.

— Associated Press —

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — With one powerful swing, Miguel Sano put the Minnesota Twins in front of the Kansas City Royals and out of their frustration.

For once, this floundering team had reason to feel good at the ballpark.

Sano hit the go-ahead two-run home run in the fifth inning, and the Twins staved off another series sweep Wednesday by beating the Royals 7-5.

“It hasn’t been what everyone was hoping it would be, just being a guy who could come out and dominate in his second year and all the hype, but you know it’s a tough game and he’s kind of learned that,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said.

The major league leader with 67 strikeouts in 45 games, Sano bailed out Tyler Duffey (2-3) with his drive into the second deck above left field for a 6-5 lead on his eighth home run this season after Joe Mauer started with a single.

Sano, who is batting .221 after a strong debut in 2015, was in a 2-for-24 skid until that. He credited Mauer for some strategical hitting advice.

“I listened to him,” Sano said through an interpreter, “and I hit the ball out.”

Eduardo Nunez and Brian Dozier each homered, too, the first two batters to face Royals starter Dillon Gee (1-2) and just the fifth pair in Twins history to go deep in their first two plate appearances of the game.

Duffey gave away a 3-0 lead during a five-run fourth by the Royals, but the right-hander hung around long enough to become the first Twins starter this season to record his second victory. The rotation has totaled six wins. There were 11 pitchers in the major leagues with seven or more victories when the day began.

“When that kind of inning happens, that’s kind of the test,” Duffey said. “If you don’t go out and get it done after that, you kind of quit on your team and I wasn’t going to do that.”

Duffey displayed the swagger the Twins had in ample supply Wednesday and have been missing all year. He responded to a brief mound visit from Dozier after Sano had returned him the lead.

“I told him he’s got to bear down. The winning run is out there and that’s the way you have to act,” Dozier said.

The Twins (12-34) have trailed at some point in all but two of their games this year. They were in trouble after Eric Hosmer hit a two-run double to halt a 2-for-22 slide and the sizzling Salvador Perez tied the game with another double. Omar Infante added a two-out RBI triple and trotted home on Duffey’s wild pitch.

Duffey pitched into the seventh, and Trevor May struck out Lorenzo Cain with two runners on to end a threat. May gave up 10 runs, including four homers, over 3 1/3 innings in his previous five appearances. Cain is batting .356 (32 for 90) with 17 RBI in this month.

Kevin Jepsen pitched a scoreless ninth for his fourth save in seven attempts. Pinch hitter Jarrod Dyson hustled for a one-out double, but Jepsen struck out Whit Merrifield to end it and give the Royals (24-22) just their third loss in their last 10 games.

The Twins have been swept an astounding eight times already, but not this week. After allowing only two extra-base hits to right-handers all season before Wednesday, Gee gave up four of them in this one in four-plus innings. Nunez went 3 for 4 and is 6 for 8 in his career against Gee.

“It just seemed like when I made a mistake today they really did some damage,” Gee said.

Still, the Royals won their fourth straight series.

“It was a great road trip,” manager Ned Yost said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Kansas City: Cheslor Cuthbert again played 3B for Mike Moustakas (bruised left knee). Yost said the plan all along was to re-evaluate him Thursday.

Minnesota: To make room for RHP Buddy Boshers on the 40-man roster, LHP Glen Perkins (strained left shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. He’s now eligible to be activated June 10.

UP NEXT

Kansas City: The Royals return home for a four-game series beginning Thursday against Chicago, with LHP Danny Duffy (0-0, 2.13 ERA) on schedule to start for the third time. RHP Miguel Gonzalez (0-1, 4.57 ERA) will take the mound for the White Sox.

Minnesota: After a day off for travel, the Twins begin a three-game series Friday in Seattle. LHP Pat Dean (1-0, 3.86 ERA) will make his second major league start. The Mariners will send RHP Felix Hernandez (4-3, 2.21 ERA) to the mound.

— Associated Press —

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Salvador Perez hit a two-run homer, Lorenzo Cain had four hits and two RBI, and the Kansas City Royals picked up where their bats left off the night before while beating the tumbling Minnesota Twins 7-4 on Tuesday.

Wade Davis worked a wobbly ninth inning for his 12th save in 13 attempts, preserving the seventh win for the Royals in their last nine contests. They raised their two-game total in Minnesota this week to 30 hits and improved to 5-0 against the Twins this season.

After going 5 for 5 in the series opener, missing the cycle by a home run, Perez went deep just one day and a couple of innings too late. The three-time All-Star catcher followed a leadoff walk by Kendrys Morales in the second inning with a soaring drive off his 2013 teammate Ervin Santana that landed in the grass behind the wall in center field for a 2-0 lead.

That was all Edinson Volquez (5-4) needed to pick up his fifth victory, matching the cumulative total for Twins starters this season.

Volquez has given up four or more runs in four of his last six turns, and he surrendered six hits and three walks in 6 2/3 innings in this one. The right-hander struck out six, though, and was stuck with two unearned runs in the fourth when right fielder Paulo Orlando let a clean single by Eduardo Escobar skip off his glove for an error that allowed two Twins to come home.

Escobar had three hits, including a leadoff double against Davis in the ninth, but the Twins lost to the division rival Royals for the eighth straight time at home. They fell to 4-19 against the American League Central this year.

Davis walked two batters after Escobar to load the bases, but he rebounded with strikeouts of Eduardo Nunez, Joe Mauer and a routine fly out by Miguel Sano.

Santana (1-3) lasted only 3 2/3 innings, allowing nine hits, six runs and two walks in the second time this month he failed to finish the fourth inning. The right-hander turned in two strong starts in between, but for the $55 million contract he signed before last season he has not come close to delivering for the Twins.

SURGING ROYALS

Perez has a 10-game hitting streak, batting .415 (17 for 41) during that stretch. He’s a .415 career hitter (22 for 53) at Target Field.

Orlando has an eight-game hitting streak, with a .567 batting average (17 for 30) during this span.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Cheslor Cuthbert played 3B for Mike Moustakas, whose status was again day to day with a bruised knee. … RHP Chris Young (strained forearm) threw a bullpen session before the game, moving a step closer to a return to the rotation.

Twins: Sano moved to DH to give Byung Ho-Park, who ended a 0-for-21 skid with a single on Monday, a break. Sano struck out three times. … 2B Brian Dozier was on the bench for the second straight game, before drawing a pinch-hit walk in the ninth. He’s in a 1-for-19 slide, dropping his batting average to .199.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Dillon Gee (1-0, 2.90 ERA) will make his third start of the season on Wednesday, after picking up his first victory with Kansas City on Friday.

Twins: RHP Tyler Duffey (1-3, 3.30 ERA) will take the mound in the matinee to finish the series, after allowing a season-high six runs to Toronto on Friday.

— Associated Press —

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Salvador Perez and the Kansas City Royals have been off to a slow start in defense of their World Series championship.

Now that Perez has found his swing, the Royals appear primed to go on a run.

Perez had a career-high five hits, including a double, a triple and an RBI, to lead the Royals to a 10-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night.

“I think everyone is trying to do the best they can do. It’s a long season,” said Perez, who has hit safely in nine straight games. “Sometimes it will be tough and sometimes it’s a night like tonight.”

Paulo Orlando added three hits and two RBI in the rain-delayed game for the Royals, who put All-Star outfielder Alex Gordon on the disabled list on Monday with a fractured right wrist.

Ricky Nolasco (1-3) gave up six runs on eight hits and struck out three in 2 2/3 innings for the Twins (11-33), who have the worst record in the majors.

“I put the team in a big hole early and that’s never good, especially with the situation we’re in right now,” Nolasco said.

Peter Moylan (1-0) picked up the win in relief of Ian Kennedy, whose outing was cut short thanks to the 41-minute rain delay in the third inning.

The Royals pounded out 17 hits and Omar Infante drove in three runs. Perez was the first Royal with five hits in a game since Billy Butler in 2013.

“We needed that,” manager Ned Yost said. “Especially with this rain delay.”

Joe Mauer had three hits, including a solo home run in the first inning for the Twins.

Manager Paul Molitor gave slumping veteran Brian Dozier the night off, the latest in a series of moves aimed at igniting the Twins’ stagnant offense. They put two on the board in the first inning, but Nolasco gave it right back.

The Royals tied the game in the second and put four on the board in the third, with a two-run single from Jarrod Dyson putting them up 6-2.

Nolasco failed to pitch three full innings for the fourth time in his 44 starts for the Twins.

KENNEDY’S START

Kennedy gave up two runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings. He did come out to pitch again after the delay, which Yost knew was potentially tricky. Had the delay been any longer, the Royals would have gone straight to their bullpen after resuming play.

“Went back out there, I felt good, then we had another long inning and I was like, `Hey, if this inning goes any longer you’re going to have to warm someone else up,” Kennedy said.

FAST MOVERS

The rain started pouring down on Target Field — and at the Beyonce concert at TCF Bank Stadium a few miles away — at 8:20 p.m., sending fans scurrying for shelter and prompting the umpires to call the players off the field.

The Twins grounds crew sprang into action, unrolling the massive tarp over the infield in moments. The time on the clock when it was fully in place: 8:21.

CAIN’S TOUGHNESS

Lorenzo Cain had two hits and stayed in the game after fouling a pitch off of his left kneecap in the fourth inning. He was hobbling in the field and on the bases, but hung in there on a day when the Royals were banged up.

“He wanted no part of coming out of that game,” Yost said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Gordon has a non-displaced fracture of the scaphoid bone in his right wrist and will not require surgery, manager Ned Yost said. He is expected to miss the next three to four weeks. … 3B Mike Moustakas was held out with a bruised knee and is listed day to day.

Twins: RHP Kyle Gibson threw 56 pitches in his rehab start for Class A Fort Myers on Sunday and will throw another 80 on Friday.

UP NEXT

RHP Ervin Santana (1-2, 3.13) takes the mound for the Twins against RHP Edinson Volquez (4-4, 3.79) for the Royals. Santana is coming off of his best outing of the season, going eight innings against the Blue Jays. Volquez has given up four runs in three of his last five starts for a 6.00 ERA.

— Associated Press —

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — When Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas collided while chasing a foul ball on Sunday, the Kansas City Royals gasped at the prospects of losing two All-Stars on one play.

A day later, the news could have been much worse.

Gordon was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Monday with a fractured right wrist, but he will not need surgery. Moustakas was held out of the series opener in Minnesota — he is considered day-to-day with a bruised knee.

The break in the scaphoid in Gordon’s wrist was non-displaced. He is expected to miss three to four weeks.

“That hurts,” manager Ned Yost said. “But we feel like we have enough to cover that.”

The All-Stars were injured in a loss to the White Sox in Chicago on Sunday when they slammed into each other while chasing after a fly ball in foul territory.

The Royals recalled infielder Cheslor Cuthbert to take Gordon’s place on the roster.

Gordon has struggled this season, hitting just .211 with four home runs and 10 RBIs for the defending champions, who started the day in third place in the AL Central.

Jarrod Dyson started in Gordon’s place in left field on Monday against the Twins, and Yost also can use Whit Merrifield there as well.

Merrifield was in the lineup at third base for Moustakas on Monday night.

Moustakas went out and tested the knee in pregame warmups but felt some discomfort and was held out.

— Associated Press —

CHICAGO (AP) — The White Sox didn’t completely break out of their offensive funk. But they scored just enough runs to win for the third time in 11 games.

Todd Frazier tied for the AL lead with his 13th home run, Melky Cabrera drove in two runs and the Chicago beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 Sunday to avoid what would have been its first losing sweep this season.

“Hopefully, we can keep tacking on some more runs, because we still left a couple out there today that we could have easily gotten,” Frazier said. “We’re still focused and determined to get those in.”

Carlos Rodon (2-4) allowed two runs and pitched into the seventh inning for his first victory since April 13.

“We didn’t want to get swept during that series,” Rodon said. “I came out and pitched the best I could and gave the team a chance to win. We did that today. All around good baseball.”

David Robertson overcame dizziness to get three outs for his 11th save in 13 chances for the AL Central leaders.

Lorenzo Cain and Paulo Orlando had two hits apiece for the World Series champions, who had won six of their previous eight.

Yordano Ventura (4-3) gave up three runs and six hits in six innings for the Royals, who were trying for their first road series sweep. He is 3-0 in four home starts but 1/3 in five road games.

Rodon allowed eight hits and struck out four in his first time facing Kansas City.

“His confidence grows as he goes along, of just who he is and where he belongs and how he’s doing,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said.

Kansas City had four singles — including Orlando’s two-out RBI hit — to take the lead in the second. Orlando drove in three of the Royals’ eight runs in the series. He also doubled and is hitting .364 (20 for 55) in his career against Chicago.

Frazier’s homer, which matched Baltimore’s Mark Trumbo for the AL lead, brought Chicago even in the fourth.

Cabrera put the White Sox ahead with a two-run single in the fifth on an 0-2 pitch.

“We needed to win this game,” Cabrera said.

The White Sox were 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position, dropping to 1 for 23 during the series.

“We’ve been scuffling with guys on base, especially with two outs,” Ventura said.

Omar Infante had a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

“You always want to win the series. That’s your No. 1 goal,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “You put yourself in a position to sweep them, but Rodon did a nice job of pitching today.”

A BREAK

Struggling White Sox 1B Jose Abreu had the day off. He is hitting .243 with six home runs and 39 strikeouts. Jerry Sands started at first base and DH Jimmy Rollins hit second.

“I’ve been swinging at a lot of pitches out of the zone and that’s not my approach,” Abreu said through an interpreter.

GOOD D

Both right fielders made impressive defensive plays. Orlando robbed Austin Jackson of an extra-base hit with a runner on third in the sixth by making a catch against the wall. Chicago’s Adam Eaton made a sliding catch in foul territory for the game’s first out.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: LF Alex Gordon (bruised right wrist) is day to day after he collided with 3B Mike Moustakas while they pursued a foul popup in the seventh. Both remained in the game, and Whit Merrifield pinch hit for Gordon the next inning.

White Sox: Ventura and a trainer checked on Robertson during the final batter in the ninth. Robertson said he felt dizziness but was doing fine after the game. . C Kevan Smith was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list and optioned to Triple-A Charlotte before Sunday’s game. He was on the DL since April 26 (retroactive to April 24) with sacroiliac joint dysfunction. He has yet to play in the majors.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy (4-3, 3.24 ERA) is to start Monday’s series opener against Minnesota and RHP Ricky Nolasco (1-2, 4.74).

White Sox: RHP Mat Latos (5-1, 4.00) is to start a doubleheader opener Monday against Cleveland and RHP Mike Clevinger (0-0, 6.75). RHP Erik Johnson (0-1, 7.20) is to start the second game for Chicago against RHP Cody Anderson (0-3, 7.99).

— Associated Press —

CHICAGO (AP) — The Kansas City Royals hit the field with their starter on a 60-pitch limit and two key relievers unavailable because of overwork.

All they did was win a pitcher’s duel.

Lorenzo Cain hit a solo home run and five pitchers combined to allow seven hits in a 2-1 victory over the slumping Chicago White Sox on Saturday.

Danny Duffy and Peter Moylan combined for six scoreless innings. Joakim Soria (2-1) worked out of a seventh-inning jam and Wade Davis pitched a hitless ninth for his 11th save in Kansas City’s second straight win over the AL Central leaders.

“We win on pitching and defense and this was another good example of it,” manager Ned Yost said.

Cain’s leadoff shot to center in the sixth off Miguel Gonzalez (0-1) made it 2-0 after Eric Hosmer’s first-inning sacrifice fly.

Gonzalez allowed six hits, struck out eight and didn’t walk a hitter over six innings in his third start since being called up from Triple-A. But he got no help from an offense that’s frustrated. Chicago has lost eight of 10.

“It’s our first real kind of test in the division and the Royals are doing their job and we basically are not,” Chicago third baseman Todd Frazier said.

The Royals won for the sixth time in eight games despite needing bullpen help with Duffy on a pitch limit. He allowed four hits in 4 1/3 innings, throwing 63 pitches.

“I try to be available when my team calls upon me to do something. That’s what’s happened the past two outings,” Duffy said on being converted back to a starter.

“It doesn’t really feel weird. It’s not really as much of a task when you’ve got the defense that you do behind you and the bullpen behind you,” he said.

Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas, activated off the disabled list after missing more than two weeks with a left thumb injury, went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts and misplayed a bunt to load the bases with nobody out in the seventh.

Soria replaced Brian Flynn and induced slumping Jose Abreu’s double play grounder to end Chicago’s 13-inning scoreless streak. Soria then got Frazier to ground to third before working a perfect eighth in his first two-inning stint since 2011.

Yost said “under no circumstances” would he use Luke Hochevar or Kelvin Herrera. Hochevar had appeared in five of seven games and Herrera four of six.

“They let me know that I might go one-plus, but I didn’t know two innings,” Soria said. “I felt good and I was hitting my spots.”

Not even more lineup tinkering by manager Robin Ventura could get the White Sox out of their offensive funk.

Jerry Sands played first base and hit cleanup, with Melky Cabrera moved to fifth and barely missed a home run with a fourth-inning double off the wall. Abreu hit second for the second straight day and was the DH and Tyler Saladino was again at shortstop in place of struggling Jimmy Rollins.

Rollins struck out pinch-hitting for Sands in the eighth for Chicago, which has scored four runs in three games.

Ventura said he sees players pressing, including Abreu before his double play.

“You could see it as far as getting in those situations trying to probably hit a seven-run homer,” manager Robin Ventura said. “You can’t get out of it that way. You’ve got to be able to relax and get through it. We’ll be there for him.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: To make room for Moustakas, Cheslor Cuthbert was optioned to Triple-A Omaha, where Yost said he’ll play second and third. “Did he deserve to go down? No,” Yost said. “There’s just not a spot for him.” … Yost said needing to stretch out Duffy while he was in the rotation is why they elected to keep 13 pitchers.

White Sox: RHP Jake Petricka (hip) is not ready to come off the disabled list. “He still feels a little something there,” Ventura said.

DYSON OVER ORLANDO

Despite his second three-hit game of the week Friday, Paulo Orlando was out of the Kansas City lineup. And for good reason. Jarrod Dyson started in right and went 3 for 4 with a stolen base while improving to 7 for 8 against Gonzalez.

UP NEXT

Royals RHP Yordano Ventura (4-2, 4.85 ERA) faces LHP Carlos Rondon (1-4, 4.73) in Sunday’s series finale.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — David Price did exactly what the Boston Red Sox expected when they signed him to a $217 million deal.

The big left-hander dominated the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night, and with help from home runs by Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts, led the Red Sox to a 5-2 victory and a split of their day-night doubleheader.

“He was very good,” said Red Sox manager John Farrell, who was happy to escape Kansas City with a win after dropping the first two games of the series. “He was really commanding all of his pitches.”

The Royals won the opener 3-2 on Wednesday behind strong performances by their pitchers, but it was Price (6-1) who shined in the nightcap, allowing two runs over 7 1/3 innings in his second straight solid start.

He began his Red Sox tenure by allowing at least five runs in four of his first seven starts.

“Price was really good, good cutters, good fastballs, threw some really good change-ups,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. That’s a tough club. They were extremely hot coming in here.”

The Red Sox were clinging to a 2-1 lead when they loaded the bases off Edinson Volquez (4-4) with two outs in the sixth inning. Christian Vazquez dribbled a single up the middle to score two runs, giving the Red Sox plenty of cushion the way their left-hander was pitching.

Volquez left after the sixth. He allowed four runs, seven hits and four walks.

In the opener, Eric Hosmer followed a single by Alcides Escobar with a homer in the first inning, and Lorenzo Cain added a sacrifice fly following Jarrod Dyson’s triple to provide the Royals’ only offense.

Ian Kennedy allowed two runs, six hits and a walk over 5 2/3 innings, striking out nine, before Brian Flynn — who earned his first career win — and Luke Hochevar combined to strike out four consecutive batters.

Kelvin Herrera allowed back-to-back base hits in the eighth, but Xander Bogaerts was thrown out by Dyson from right field trying to reach third base. Travis Shaw flied out to end the inning.

Wade Davis worked around a single in ninth for his ninth save.

“We kept coming at guys. We kept digging,” Farrell said between games. “We kept fighting, trying to create some opportunities, right through the last pitch.”

Steven Wright (3-4) surrendered five hits without a walk in a complete game for Boston.

The knuckleballer set down 10 straight at one point, but the two extra-base hits came back to haunt him. Still, it was a nice rebound after allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings against Houston in his last start.

“He had really good stuff,” Cain said.

Chris Young homered in the fifth for the Red Sox. David Ortiz drove in their other run.

“I think every pitcher’s goal is to go deep into the game. I think it was more crucial today, knowing we’ve got a doubleheader,” Wright said. “It (stinks) we got the loss. I felt like I threw the ball well.”

GOING STREAKING

Bradley extended his hitting streak to 24 games, the longest by a Red Sox player since Ortiz went 27 games in 2012-13. … Bogaerts has hit in 13 consecutive games. … The Red Sox have homered in 19 straight games, matching the longest streak in franchise history. That mark was set in July 1996.

ROSTER MOVE

Between games, the Royals called up INF/OF Whit Merrifield and optioned INF Christian Colon to Triple-A Omaha. Merrifield started Game 2 in left field and had his first hit in the fifth inning. They also added RHP Alec Mills as their 26th man, and he made his big-league debut, allowing a run in the eighth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Red Sox: RHP Carson Smith (right flexor strain) may return to the DL, Farrell said. Smith is still feeling forearm pain since returning from the DL on May 3.

Royals: RHP Chris Young (right forearm strain) is throwing from 60 feet but has yet to pitch from a mound. … 3B Mike Moustakas (left thumb fracture) was the DH and went 2 for 4 with an RBI in his first rehab game Wednesday at Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He could rejoin the Royals this weekend in Chicago.

UP NEXT

Boston heads home to begin a three-game set against Cleveland and the Royals visit the White Sox for three games. Both series begin Friday night.

— Associated Press —