Samardzija has not fared well at home this season, however.
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Kansas City has been good enough the rest of the season that its place in the postseason is secure thanks to winning the American League Central Division title. They will host the first two games of their ALDS, and a Game 5 if necessary. If the Royals win either the American League Championship Series or the World Series, Martin has a few top-secret plans for limited-edition T-shirts and care packages.
The consecutive homers – Kansas City’s first since July 25, 2014 – snapped Samardzija’s string of 14 scoreless innings.
The bad news out of the game was that Lorenzo Cain fouled a ball off his knee and was later removed from the game. After Moustakas could not corral a grounder by fellow third baseman Mike Olt, pinch-runner Tyler Saladino stole second and reached third on a throwing error by catcher Salvador Perez. The Royals said Cain has a right knee bruise and is day to day.
After going 0-for-4 Wednesday, Cain is hitting.
The White Sox took a 1-0 lead in the third inning.
The White Sox, who have scored exactly one run in back-to-back games, have punched out double-digit hits just once over their last 13 games.
The White Sox led 3-0 after Adam Eaton drove a two-run homer into the bullpen in right field off Royals starter Johnny Cueto (10-13) in the fifth inning. Westport-based Normal Human has captured the moment perfectly on a gray-and-blue tee that depicts an anonymous player with a water bucket on his head and the words “Kansas City 2015”. I just wasn’t able to nail it down there in the 10 and give us another chance to score a run. “Just find ways to pick up your teammates”.
While the Royals obviously have more to play for than the White Sox, Danks has owned Kansas City throughout his career.
Manager Ned Yost admitted he is fighting the urge to do something to help the Royals (90-67) break out of their funk. “It’s not fun losing ballgames. But you want to finish as strong as you can”.
The two baseballs were crushed, one in the seventh inning and one in the eighth, both probably destined to become game-tying hits until the gloves of the White Sox defenders intervened.
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Royals: OF Jarrod Dyson replaced Cain in center field. The White Sox have scored eight runs in their last three games and three or less runs in seven of their last 10 games. Manager Robin Ventura said he didn’t have a timetable for when Johnson would return to baseball activities. Go for the one that says “OMG Becky, look at that bunt”.
