White Sox Hang On To Beat Royals, 7-5
CHICAGO (AP) -- Alex Avila hit two of Chicago's season-high four home runs and the struggling White Sox beat Kansas City, 7-5, on Friday night to give a shaky Chris Sale his major league-leading 10th win and the Royals their eight straight loss.
The defending champions matched their longest losing streak since May 2013, while the White Sox opened the weekend series with their second straight win after dropping 20 of 26.
Sale (10-2) pitched into the seventh and got the victory despite giving up a season-high three home runs -- two solo drives to Eric Hosmer and one to Salvador Perez. But the White Sox also used the long ball to come out on top after beating Washington the previous night.
Avila came through with his first two homers since signing with Chicago in the offseason. He hit back-to-back solo drives with Brett Lawrie in the fourth and added a two-run shot in the sixth off Ian Kennedy (4-5) to make it 7-3.
Melky Cabrera also homered for Chicago.
Top prospect Tim Anderson added two hits for Chicago in his major league debut, including a double in his first at-bat, and scored a run. The promising shortstop was called up before the game to replace veteran Jimmy Rollins, who was designated for assignment.
Those moves came a day after the White Sox let pitcher Mat Latos go and signed former AL MVP Justin Morneau -- and less than a week after they acquired starter James Shields from San Diego.
Sale got the win after going 0-2 in his previous three starts even though he gave up 11 hits. He struck out eight and walked one.
Sale exited with a 7-4 lead and runners on first and third after Alcides Escobar's RBI single with none out in the seventh. Hosmer added a sacrifice fly off Dan Jennings in the inning to make it a two-run game. But the White Sox hung on, with David Robertson working the ninth for his 15th save in 17 tries.
Kennedy lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs and nine hits. The right-hander gave up a career-high four homers and dropped to 0-3 in his past six outings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: General manager Rick Hahn said CF Austin Jackson will likely miss at least six weeks because of a medial meniscus tear in his left knee and have surgery next week. Jackson hurt his knee stepping on a base awkwardly during Thursday's win over Washington. He remained in the game, but an MRI on Friday confirmed the injury. With Jackson on the 15-day DL, Chicago recalled outfielder Jason Coats from Triple-A. ... Hahn also said pitchers Jake Petricka (torn labrum in hip) and Daniel Webb (Tommy John elbow surgery) had season-ending operations on Friday.
UP NEXT
LHP Jose Quintana (5-6, 2.58 ERA) looks to get back to winning for Chicago after dropping five consecutive starts, while the Royals are pushing Chris Young back in the rotation and going with LHP Danny Duffy (1-1, 3.35) instead.
(© 2016 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)
