Ventura Pitches Royals Past White Sox, 3-1
CHICAGO (AP) — Yordano Ventura pitched seven sharp innings for Kansas City in his first start since he brawled with Manny Machado in Baltimore, and the Royals beat the Chicago White Sox, 3-1, on Sunday for their second straight win following an eight-game losing streak.
Ventura (5-4) struck out a season-high 10 and walked one in his first win since May 17 against Boston, making the most of Kansas City's run-scoring singles in the first and second. Salvador Perez added a leadoff homer down the left-field line in the ninth.
The 25-year-old Ventura had been 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA in his previous four starts. The right-hander was suspended for nine games by Major League Baseball after he hit Machado in the back with a 99 mph fastball in the fifth inning of a 9-1 loss Tuesday, leading to a benches-clearing fight. But he appealed the punishment and is allowed to pitch until the process is complete.
Chicago put runners on first and third with no out in the fifth, but J.B. Shuck struck out looking and Ventura got rookie Tim Anderson to bounce into a double play — one of three on the day for Chicago. After Jose Abreu homered in the sixth, Ventura struck out Melky Cabrera and Todd Frazier to end the inning.
Kelvin Herrera worked the eighth and Wade Davis finished for his 17th save in 18 chances, helping manager Ned Yost improve to 500-499 in seven years with Kansas City.
The White Sox lost for the 14th time in their last 18 games — five of those defeats against Kansas City.
Carlos Rodon (2-6) shook off a slow start and pitched six effective innings for Chicago after he was pushed back a couple days due to a sore neck. The left-hander allowed seven hits, struck out seven and walked two.
Kendrys Morales' two-out RBI single got Kansas City on the board in the first, and Whit Merrifield added another run-scoring single in the second.
OLD FRIENDS
White Sox right-hander James Shields visited the Royals before the game and chatted with Yost.
Shields won 27 games in two seasons in Kansas City, helping the Royals reach the 2014 World Series. He signed with San Diego in February 2015 and was traded to the White Sox on June 4.
"He left a big impact here. It's good to see him," Yost said. "I'm glad he's back in the American League."
Shields lasted just two-plus innings in an 11-4 loss to Washington in his White Sox debut on Wednesday. He pitches again on Monday against Detroit.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: C Perez was checked on by Yost and a trainer after he fell awkwardly while chasing a wild pitch in the fourth inning. He stayed in after catching a warmup pitch from Ventura. ... OF Brett Eibner (left ankle sprain) went 1 for 10 in the first three games of a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha. He was out of the starting lineup for the Storm Chasers' game at New Orleans on Sunday.
UP NEXT
Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez (5-6, 4.25 ERA) gets the ball when Kansas City begins a seven-game homestand on Monday night against Cleveland. RHP Carlos Carrasco (2-1, 3.48 ERA) pitches for the Indians in the opener of a three-game series.
White Sox: Shields (2-8, 5.06 ERA) is 7-6 with a 4.10 ERA in 18 career starts against Detroit. LHP Matt Boyd (0-1, 3.38 ERA) goes for the Tigers.
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