Lorenzo Cain started for the first time since August 30 following a wrist injury and reached base three times with a single and two walks despite pain when he squeezes the bat. “Whit came up and smoked the ball in the left-center field gap and it worked out perfectly”.
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The Royals lost for the sixth time in nine games and remained four games out of the second AL wild card.
Kevin McCarthy (1-0) got the last out of the sixth and Joakim Soria struck out two in a ideal eighth to earn his first major league victory.
Still, the Royals and closer Wade Davis had a nervous ninth before finally locking down the win. But Morneau struck out, giving Davis his 23rd save. After Tyler Saladino led off with a double and stole third, Tim Anderson followed with a one-out RBI single. “I think that he’s so good in tough situations that he just ended up coming out on top. We had our opportunity”.
In the seventh, Merrifield drove in Gore and Dyson with his hit off Beck for a 5-4 lead.
Shields, who helped the Royals reach the 2014 World Series, allowed three runs and four hits. Manager Ned Yost said Friday Perez is still feeling discomfort when he swings a bat, but is fine when he throws. “It was one of those nights where he wasn’t exceptionally sharp but made big pitches when he needed to limit the damage”.
But then Davis did what Sox reliever Chris Beck couldn’t do two innings earlier. The 34-year-old Shields is 0-5 with an ERA of just above 12 over his last seven outings and has surrendered 15 home runs in his last six starts.
But the Royals touched reliever Chris Beck for three runs in the seventh inning to take a 6-4 lead.
Eaton doubled to lead off the first and fifth innings off Yordano Ventura (10-10) and scored each time on Melky Cabrera RBIs.
Kansas City replied in the fourth with Gordon’s leadoff home run to right. The struggling righty exited after six innings leading 4-3 before the Chicago’s bullpen faltered. Abreu forced a tie with a two-out single that drove in Cabrera from second after he had doubled to deep right. “Happy I came through right there”.
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Cain returned Friday from a sprained wrist, but was basically swinging one-handed. He played on Friday for the first time since August 30, going 1-for-3. How’s it look?” Chicago will go for its fourth straight victory behind ex-Royal James Shields, who went 27-17 in two seasons (2013-14) with Kansas City but will try to avoid his 18th loss this season.TV: “7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Kansas City, CSN ChicagoPITCHING MATCHUP: “Royals RH Edinson Vólquez (10-10, 5.02 ERA) vs. He’s made at least 30 starts in each of the last five seasons. The White Sox are five games under the.500 mark and will be looking to finish the season with some momentum and play spoiler for the Royals in the process and after a big win yesterday they have to feel confident heading into this one as both teams are throwing shaky starters.
