Royals 3, White Sox 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Lorenzo Cain doubled, tripled, drove in a run and scored a run as the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2 Friday night.
Center fielder Cain doubled home left fielder Ben Zobrist, who began the inning with a single, with the first run in the two-run sixth. It was Zobrist's first game at Kauffman Stadium as a member of the Royals after being acquired last week in a trade with Oakland.
Cain scored on first baseman Eric Hosmer's single
Right-hander Edinson Volquez gave up one run on six hits over seven innings to earn the victory. Left-hander John Danks took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits in six innings.
Greg Holland gave up a home run to White Sox designated Adam LaRoche in the ninth, but claimed his 24th save.
White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu doubled home center fielder Trayce Thompson in the sixth to tie the score at 1-1.
The Royals got to Danks for a run in the fifth.
Danks, who held the Royals to one hit in the first four innings, issued a one-out walk to slumping third baseman Mike Moustakas, who scored on right fielder Alex Rios' double to left. Moustakas was in a 4-for-35 skid when Danks put him on base.
Both teams stranded a runner at third base early in the game.
Cain tripled to left with two outs in the first but was left there after first baseman Eric Hosmer popped out to end the inning.
White Sox left fielder Melky Cabrera led off the second with a double and advanced to third on right fielder Avisail Garcia's groundout. Cabrera had to stay put when LaRoche flied out to shallow left. Shortstop Alexei Ramirez popped up to second baseman Omar Infante to strand Cabrera.
After needing only six pitches to dispense of the Royals on three fly balls in the second, Danks struck out the side in the third.
White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton suffered a left shoulder injury in the fourth when he tumbled to the ground catching Zobrist's long fly ball. After being checked by trainer Herm Schneider, Eaton was led off the field and replaced by Thompson, who appeared in his second big league game.
NOTES: Despite a 4-6 trip to Cleveland, Toronto and Detroit, the Royals picked up two games in the American League Central standings. "It happens sometimes," Royals manager Ned Yost said. They returned home Friday with a 9 1/2-game lead over Minnesota. ... Royals 3B Mike Moustakas was hitting .203 since the All-Star break entering Friday's game. ... RHP Jeff Samardzija, who gave up nine runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings in a loss to the Yankees in his previous outing, starts Saturday against the Royals, who will counter with RHP Jeremy Guthrie. ... The White Sox entered Friday winning 11 of their past 13 road games.