Royals 7, White Sox 6 (13)
CHICAGO -- The Kansas City Royals coughed up three leads, but the fourth stood up as they beat the Chicago White Sox 7-6 in 13 innings Saturday at U.S. Cellular Field.
After losing leads of 3-0, 4-3 and 6-4, the Royals took the lead for good in the 13th on center fielder Lorenzo Cain's leadoff home run. It was hit off left-hander Dan Jennings, who took the loss after throwing a career-high 3 2/3 innings.
The homer happened shortly after Chicago catcher Geovany Soto nearly ended the game in the 12th with a long shot that hit the base of the wall in left-center field for a two-out double.
Right-hander Ryan Madson earned his first save of the season by throwing a scoreless inning in the 13th, but he needed a great play by third baseman Mike Moustakas to do it. Moustakas snared a line drive and doubled off center fielder Adam Eaton at first to end the game.
Kansas City had Chicago down to its final out in the ninth with the 6-4 lead, but right fielder J.B. Shuck's double scored designated hitter Gordon Beckham and shortstop Alexei Ramirez to send the game to extra innings.
Shuck's double came off Royals closer Greg Holland, who blew just his third save in 23 opportunities. It squandered a lead given to him after the Royals score two runs on two hits and three walks in the eighth against relievers Jake Petricka and Zach Duke. Kansas City's runs in the eighth ended a scoreless stretch of 21 innings by the White Sox bullpen.
Kansas City (54-35) can win the four-game series by winning Sunday in the finale. Chicago (42-47) dropped to 12 games behind the first-place Royals in the American League Central.
The Royals wasted no time getting on the scoreboard against Chicago starter Jose Quintana, who had been 0-6 with 4.50 ERA in 14 starts against them. The first four hitters each got hits, and three wound up scoring in a three-run inning that included two doubles and five hits.
Moustakas and catcher Salvador Perez each doubled in a run, and first baseman Eric Hosmer singled home a run to give Guthrie a quick 3-0 lead.
Chicago made it 3-1 in the third on a pair of two-out singles and a walk, but the Sox left the bases loaded when Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie struck out designated hitter Adam LaRoche. It was the first of three straight innings in which Chicago scored with two outs and then stranded two runners.
Kansas City reclaimed the lead in the sixth off Quintana the same way, using back-to-back doubles by right fielder Alex Rios and outfielder Paulo Orlando to go ahead 4-3 before Moustakas hit into a rally-ending double play with two runners on base. Ramirez knotted it 4-4 in the seventh with a homer off a 99 mph fastball by right-hander Kelvin Herrera. It was his first home run since May 9 in Cincinnati.
Quintana had a string of quality starts end at nine and came up short in a bid to become the first pitcher in major-league history to record four straight starts with at least eight strikeouts and no walks.
NOTES: The White Sox capped their 10-year reunion weekend for the 2005 World Series championship team with a pregame ceremony that lasted about 30 minutes. A number of players and coaches from that team attended the festivities, including Frank Thomas, Paul Konerko and manager Ozzie Guillen. ... Royals RHP Edinson Volquez, who was hit by a ground ball during his start Friday, had a noticeable limp while walking through the clubhouse Saturday. Manager Ned Yost, however, said there is no serious injury concern and Volquez isn't expected to miss time. ... The White Sox have some tough roster decisions to make Tuesday. They are short a relief pitcher right now and will need to send somebody to the minors to add another arm to the bullpen. The most likely candidate to be sent down is 3B Tyler Saladino, but manager Robin Ventura said Saladino's play since being recalled last week is giving the White Sox something to think about.