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 "It's key," Yost said. "Especially when the middle of the order,
the production has been down a little bit. You've got to pick up
that production somewhere."
On Friday, No. 9 hitter Paulo Orlando embraced the task. Orlando
went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, and the Royals pulled away
for a 4-1 win over the Chicago White Sox.
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.
The White Sox left nine runners on base and struck out 10 times.
Adam Eaton was ejected on the final play of the game for arguing
balls and strikes.
 "To beat a competitive team like Kansas City, you've got to get
those two-out knocks," Eaton said. "It just seemed like missed
opportunities. It's been kind of the story of this homestand thus
far. We've got to turn it around, some way, shape or form."
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.
"I was in quite a few jams, but we were able to pitch our way out of
it," Gee said. "I executed some pitches when I needed to, and that's
the difference between a good game and a bad game."
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.
"He's really tough," Yost said of Quintana. "He's got a 93 mph
fastball that he spots on both sides of the plate really well. He
has a really good curveball and mixes in his changeup. We found some
holes. We just got some pitches that we could handle, and we didn't
miss them."
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.
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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 Eaton before he
could return to second base for an inning-ending double play.
"We see (Escobar) every day," Yost said. "He's very athletic. He's a
Gold Glover for a reason."
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 Cabrera, who led off the inning with a single.
White Sox manager Robin Ventura said his players needed to stay
patient amid a recent skid.
"You're going to go through stuff like that," Ventura said. "As
frustrating as it is, we'll grind through it. We've got some guys
that have been around. But, yeah, it is a rut."
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.
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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