Cabrera helps White Sox avert sweep by Royals
CHICAGO -- Melky Cabrera went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, and the Chicago White Sox held on for a 3-2 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday afternoon.
Todd Frazier contributed a pair of hits, including a solo home run, for the White Sox. Chicago (26-18) averted a three-game series sweep and won for the third time in the past 11 contests.
Paulo Orlando went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI to lead the Royals at the plate. Kansas City (22-21) dropped to 9-14 on the road.
White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon (2-4) earned his first victory since April 13. The 23-year-old southpaw allowed two runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out four.
Four White Sox pitchers preserved the lead out of the bullpen. Right-hander David Robertson pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record his 11th save.
Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura (4-3) gave up three runs on six hits in six innings. He walked four and struck out three. Ventura leads the majors with 33 walks this season.
Kansas City opened the scoring in the second inning on Orlando's single to center field. The hit scored Eric Hosmer, who led off the inning with a line-drive single up the middle.
Chicago evened the score at 1 on an opposite-field home run by Frazier to lead off the fourth inning. Frazier connected with Ventura's 98 mph fastball on the outside corner, and the ball carried over the right-field fence for Frazier's 13th home run of the season.
The White Sox added a pair of runs in the fifth inning to grab a 3-1 lead. Cabrera lined a two-out single to center field to score Alex Avila and Austin Jackson.
Kansas City trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Omar Infante.
The game was delayed for a few minutes in the seventh inning after Royals left fielder Alex Gordon collided with third baseman Mike Moustakas while chasing a pop fly in foul territory. Both players remained in the game after being evaluated by the team trainer.
NOTES: White Sox 1B Jose Abreu was held out of the starting lineup after managing only two extra-base hits in his previous 11 games. Abreu hit at least .290 in each of his first two seasons, but he is hitting .243 this season. "Just hit the reset button and let him watch and cheer guys on," manager Robin Ventura said. ... Royals DH Kendrys Morales didn't start for the first time this season but struck out in the ninth as a pinch hitter. Morales is hitting .190 with five home runs and 17 RBIs in 42 games. "He just needs a break," manager Ned Yost said. ... White Sox SS Carlos Sanchez earned his third start of the season. Sanchez started 112 games in 2015 but returned to a reserve role after the White Sox added 2B Brett Lawrie and SS Jimmy Rollins. ... Royals C Drew Butera made his third start in the past 25 games.