Dunn Homers Again, Sale Wins 8th Straight, Sox Beat Royals 2-1
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Chris Sale won his eighth straight decision, Adam Dunn homered in his third straight game and the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 2-1 Sunday.
Sale (11-2) is 8-0 with two no-decisions since a May 12 loss to the Royals.
He allowed one run and scattered a season-high 10 hits eight innings to lower his earned run average to 2.11, which ranks second on the American League. He struck out four and walked none.
Dunn, who leads the league with 28 home runs, drilled a 2-0 pitch from Luis Mendoza (3-6) just inside the right-field pole in the first inning. Dunn has 65 hits overall this season, meaning 43 percent of them have been home runs.
Addison Reed, who blew a save Friday, worked a scoreless ninth for his 14th save in 16 opportunities.
The White Sox loaded the bases with no outs in the second when Alex Rios singled, A.J. Pierzynski was hit by a pitch and Dayan Viciedo stroked an infield single. They converted that into just one run when Rios scored as Alexei Ramirez grounded into a double play. Mendoza threw but seven pitches to five batters that inning.
Mendoza allowed just one hit after the second inning, but took the loss. He gave up two runs on four hits in 7 1/3 innings, while striking out six and walking four.
The Royals avoided a shutout when Mike Moustakas, who led off the fifth with a single and advanced to second on a Sale wild pitch, scored on a Chris Getz single.
Getz moved to third on Alex Gordon's single, but was stranded when Alcides Escobar struck out and Butler grounded out.
The AL Central leading White Sox are 7-2 in their past nine games. The Royals lost for the 10th time in 13 games.
NOTES: 1B Eric Hosmer, who is hitless in his past 11 at-bats to drop his average to .224, was not in the Royals lineup Sunday. .Royals C Manny Pina, who had knee surgery in spring training, was reinstated from the disabled list and optioned to Double-A Northwest Arkansas. RHP Felipe Paulino, who had season-ending elbow surgery, was transferred from the 15-day DL to the 60-day. .Dunn has homered in three straight games for the second time this season. The first was June 9-12. .White Sox 1B Paul Konerko is hitting .228 since May 28. He had a .399 average before then. .LHP Jonathan Sanchez, who has not won since April 8, will be the Royals' starter Monday for the series opener against Seattle. The Mariners will counter with LHP Jason Vargas. .The White Sox travel to Boston, which will be a homecoming for 3B Kevin Youkilis. The Red Sox dealt him on June 24 to Chicago.
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