White Sox Rally For 2nd Sunday Win Against Royals
CHICAGO (AP) — Conor Gillaspie hit a two-run single in Chicago's five-run sixth inning, and the White Sox rallied to beat Kansas City 5-3 for their second win against the Royals on Sunday.
The day began with Avisail Garcia's two-out RBI single sending Chicago to a 3-2 victory in the resumption of a game suspended by rain on Friday night. Then an error on Kansas City third baseman Mike Moustakas helped the White Sox chase Edinson Volquez on the way to just their second win in six games this season against the Royals.
John Danks (1-2) pitched six innings of three-run ball while improving to 8-1 in 18 career starts against Kansas City. David Robertson (2-0) got three outs for his third save in three opportunities after he tossed a scoreless inning for the win in the suspended game.
Alex Gordon hit a two-run homer for Kansas City in the regularly scheduled matchup. Gordon, a four-time Gold Glove winner in left, also made a pair of nice defensive plays, including an outstanding leaping grab on Micah Johnson's foul liner into the stands in the sixth.
Volquez (2-2) was charged with one earned run and five hits in 5 2-3 innings. The right-hander pitched at least seven innings and allowed three runs or less in each of his first three starts with Kansas City.
After Gordon's sparkling catch leading off the sixth, the next five batters reached for the White Sox. Moustakas' error on Jose Abreu's grounder allowed Adam Eaton to score, and Adam LaRoche's RBI single trimmed Kansas City's lead to 3-2.
Alexei Ramirez then struck out swinging, but Gillaspie's hit put Chicago in front and Tyler Flowers added an RBI single against Jason Frasor that made it 5-3.
The White Sox and Royals were tied at 2 when Friday night's game was suspended by rain after eight innings. Robertson was on the mound when they resumed on Sunday, making for a strange scene with the veteran reliever.
"It's no different for me. I went out of the bullpen, threw my normal little warmups and just came in," said Robertson, who signed a $46 million, four-year contract with Chicago over the winter. "The only thing different is standing in the dugout and coming out. It's like you're going out for a second inning."
Robertson struck out the side while working around a two-out error by Abreu at first. Then Garcia drove in Melky Cabrera in the bottom half with his first career game-ending hit against Kelvin Herrera (0-1).
"Any time you resume a game, it's weird," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "It has a weird feeling. Guys starting the game, I'm sure it's uncomfortable for them. For us, it's good to get a win and get it started like this."
Chicago and Kansas City returned to the field for the first time since Major League Baseball handed down seven suspensions for Thursday night's brawl in the series opener. The resumption of the suspended game and Saturday's regularly scheduled matchup also were rained out.
"I think we got all our emotions out that night and I think it's over and done with," Kansas City outfielder Lorenzo Cain said. "I think we're going to try to go out here and go back to just playing baseball and leave it at that."
Chicago reliever Matt Albers broke his pinkie finger on his right hand in the brawl and was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday. The White Sox also promoted right-hander Scott Carroll from Triple-A Charlotte and designated left-hander Eric Surkamp for assignment.
"It's a little frustrating, a little disappointing that it happened like that," Albers said. "But just got to kind of roll with it. Hopefully, it won't be too long."
CABRERA'S CATCH
Cabrera jumped against the fence in left to rob Eric Hosmer of extra bases for the final out of the eighth, earning a round of applause from Zach Duke as the reliever walked to the dugout.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: Asked if closer Greg Holland (strained right pectoral muscle) had been examined again, manager Ned Yost responded: "Unless he played catch in the hotel lobby yesterday, I don't think he was reevaluated."
White Sox: Albers said he tried to played catch, but there was "quite a bit of pain" when he threw the ball.
UP NEXT
Royals: LHP Jason Vargas (1-1, 6.75 ERA) faces Indians ace Corey Kluber (0-2, 3.90 ERA) on Monday night in the opener of a three-game set at Cleveland.
White Sox: RHP Hector Noesi (0-2, 5.23 ERA) gets the ball when the White Sox open a three-game series at Baltimore on Monday night. Ubaldo Jimenez (1-1, 2.30 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for the Orioles.
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