White Sox 7, Royals 5
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Erik Johnson pitched six strong inning as the Chicago White Sox topped the Kansas City Royals 7-5 Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.
The White Sox have won four straight for the first time since a seven-game streak, July 23-29.
Johnson (1-0) claimed the victory, giving up three runs on five hits -- three of them solo home runs -- while striking out three and walking none.
Royals starter Johnny Cueto lasted only three innings and 77 pitches, surrendering five runs on seven hits, two walks and a sacrifice fly.
Cueto lost his fourth straight start and is 2-5 with a 4.86 ERA in eight starts since the Royals obtained him in a July 26 trade with Cincinnati.
Center fielder Adam Eaton led off the game with a single and moved to third on shortstop Alexei Ramirez's double that missed clearing the left-field fence by inches. First baseman Jose Abreu's single scored Eaton.
After Cueto walked left fielder Melky Cabrera to load the bases, right fielder Avisail Garcia hit a two-run single.
The third began with a Cabrera single and a Garcia walk. First baseman Adam LaRoche's single got Cabrera home and advanced Garcia to third base. Catcher Rob Brantley flied out to right fielder Ben Zobrist to score Garcia.
The White Sox hiked their advantage to 6-1 when center fielder Adam Eaton homered.
The Royals, however, trimmed that to one run by the seventh inning.
Third baseman Mike Moustakas and center fielder Jarrod Dyson homered in the sixth off Johnson.
The Royals scored two in the seventh off the White Sox bullpen. Jake Petricka began the inning hitting catcher Salvador Perez, who homered in the second inning, with a pitch to lead off the inning. Perez stopped at third on left-fielder Paulo Orlando's double.
Matt Albers, who replaced Petricka, allowed an infield single to Dyson to score Perez. Shortstop Alcides Escobar's sacrifice fly scored Orlando.
NOTES: 3B Mike Olt, who the White Sox claimed Saturday off waivers from the Cubs, became the fourth different White Sox starter at third base. ... Royals 3B Mike Moustakas, who had not started since Aug. 30 because of a pulled hamstring, was in the lineup for the series finale. ... White Sox RF Avisail Garcia tops AL outfielders with 16 assists. ... Twins LHP Tommy Milone and RHP Yordano Ventura are the pitching probables for a Labor Day matchup at Kauffman Stadium. ... White Sox LHP Chris Sale starts Monday against Indians RHP Trevor Bauer at Chicago.