Orlando leads Royals over reeling White Sox
CHICAGO -- No. 9 hitter Paulo Orlando went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, and the Kansas City Royals pulled away for a 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday.
Salvador Perez and Alcides Escobar contributed two hits apiece for the Royals. Kansas City (21-20) earned its fourth win in the past five games.
Melky Cabrera finished 2-for-4 with a run scored to lead the White Sox at the plate. Chicago (25-17) has lost five of its past six games and seven of its past nine.
Right-hander Dillon Gee (1-1) limited the White Sox to one earned run on four hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out five in his second start of the season.
Right-hander Wade Davis pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record his 10th save.
Left-hander Jose Quintana (5-3) lost his second consecutive start. He allowed four runs on eight hits, both of which were season highs, in 6 1/3 innings. He walked none and struck out five.
After managing one hit in the first five innings against Quintana, the Royals erupted for three runs on five hits in the sixth inning to seize a 3-1 lead.
Orlando started the scoring with a double to right-center field that drove in Omar Infante. Lorenzo Cain followed with a double down the left-field line to score Orlando. Two batters later, Kendrys Morales pulled a two-out single to left field to drive in Cain.
Kansas City increased its lead to 4-1 in the seventh inning on a run-scoring single by Orlando.
A sterling defensive play by Escobar at shortstop preserved the Royals' lead in the seventh inning. The White Sox had runners on first and second with one out when Todd Frazier ripped a line drive toward the hole. Escobar speared the ball and tagged Adam Eaton before he could return to second base for an inning-ending double play.
Chicago grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning after loading the bases with one out. Austin Jackson hit a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Melky Cabrera, who led off the inning with a single.
NOTES: White Sox 1B Jose Abreu hit in the No. 2 spot in the lineup for the first time this season. Abreu hit third in the lineup for the season's first 41 games. ... Royals 3B Mike Moustakas rejoined the team Friday and is expected to be activated from the 15-day disabled list before Saturday's game. Moustakas has been sidelined since May 7 because of a broken bone in his left thumb. ... White Sox SS Jimmy Rollins did not start for the second time in the past five games. Rollins, 37, is hitting .239 with two home runs and seven RBIs in 29 games. ... Royals RHP Kris Medlen participated in light throwing Friday as he recovers from inflammation in his right rotator cuff. Medlen was placed on the disabled list May 12 after posting a 1-3 record with a 7.77 ERA in six starts.