Kansas City, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Chris Sale tossed eight scoreless
innings as the Chicago White Sox downed the Kansas City Royals, 5-1, to avoid
a three-game sweep at Kauffman Stadium.
Sale (2-0) scattered four hits and a walk while striking out six to pick up
the win.
"He knows we've lost three in a row and he's going up against Shields and he
wanted to go out and shut them down," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said.
Alexei Ramirez and Tyler Flowers had two RBI apiece and Conor Gillaspie added
two doubles and a run scored for the White Sox, who visit the Colorado Rockies
on Monday to kick off a three-game set at Coors Field.
James Shields (0-1) was the hard-luck loser, allowing just one run on five
hits while striking out six over seven innings.
"He had everything working, his fastball at 94-95, a great cutter, a great
change, a great curveball," Royals manager Ned Yost said of Shields.
Alex Gordon had an RBI single and Lorenzo Cain went 2-for-3 in the setback for
the Kansas City.
After six scoreless frames, the White Sox pushed a run across in the seventh
inning. Gillaspie doubled to right, moved to third on Avisail Garcia's ground
out then scored on Ramirez's single. Ramirez ripped a grounder up the middle,
but Alcides Escobar was able to get a glove on in at the last second. Escobar
couldn't come up with the scorcher and Gillaspie score with ease.
Chicago added some insurance in the ninth inning. Adam Dunn singled and Dayan
Viciedo walked to put two on. Leury Garcia, who replaced Dunn on the bases,
stole third. Salvador Perez's throw on the play skipped into right and Leury
Garcia scored.
Garcia then worked a walk and Ramirez clubbed an RBI double to left. Flowers
followed with a two-run single to give Chicago a 5-0 lead.
Gordon's RBI single in the home half accounted for the final margin.
Game Notes
Leury Garcia has two stolen bases this season ... The White Sox were 3-for-8
with RISP ... Kansas City opens a three-game set at home against Tampa Bay on
Monday.
