Kennedy propels Royals past White Sox
CHICAGO -- Right-hander Ian Kennedy pitched six strong innings and Kendrys Morales and Eric Hosmer each belted a solo homer as the Kansas City Royals held on for a 2-0 win over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday afternoon.
Kansas City (74-68) won its second consecutive series and finished a six-game road trip with a 4-2 record.
Adam Eaton singled twice to mark the only two hits for the White Sox. Chicago (68-74) dropped to 4-11 this season against the Royals.
Kennedy (11-9) pitched around one hit and four walks to win his fifth straight decision. He struck out six.
Right-handers Peter Moylan, Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis combined for three scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Davis recorded the final three outs for his 24th save.
White Sox left-hander Chris Sale (15-8) drew the loss despite pitching at least eight innings for the fifth start in a row. He allowed two runs on eight hits, walked one and struck out 12.
Kansas City grabbed a 1-0 lead on Morales' 27th home run of the season and his fifth in the past six games. Morales belted Sale's first pitch of the second inning over the left-field wall.
Hosmer homered on the first pitch of the sixth inning to increase Kansas City's advantage. His opposite-field blast carried just past the wall in left-center field for his 23rd home run of the season.
Kennedy escaped a difficult spot in the third inning after he walked the bases loaded with two outs. Melky Cabrera ripped a fly ball to deep right field, but Whit Merrifield caught the ball in front of the warning track to end the inning.
Sale became the first player in White Sox history to strike out 200-plus batters in four straight seasons. He notched his 34th career game with at least 10 strikeouts, which also is a franchise record.
NOTES: Royals OF Lorenzo Cain will be shut down for one week to try to reduce swelling in his left hand. If the injury does not improve, the 30-year-old could miss the remainder of the regular season. Cain could not grip his bat with both hands in his most recent action Friday. He is hitting .287 with nine home runs and 56 RBIs in 103 games. "It's frustrating not to be out there on the filed with them competing each and every day," Cain said. "I'm just trying to do whatever possible to strengthen it." ... White Sox SS Tim Anderson remained in the starting lineup despite jamming his left wrist one day earlier. ... Royals C Salvador Perez started his second straight game after missing two contests because of a bruised right wrist. ... White Sox C Alex Avila started for the first time in five games.