White Sox top Royals, move into first

[September 05, 2020]  Jose Abreu's two-run double in the sixth inning opened up a close game and the Chicago White Sox defeated the host Kansas City Royals 7-4 Friday night at Kauffman Stadium.

Abreu extended his hitting streak to 18 games, tied for the longest in the majors this season with Baltimore's Anthony Santander, while Eloy Jimenez had three hits and an RBI for Chicago.

The White Sox (24-15) moved into first place in the American League Central, a half-game ahead of the Cleveland Indians, who lost Friday, and the Minnesota Twins, who swept a doubleheader from Detroit.

Codi Heuer (2-0) got the win in relief, and Alex Colome got his eighth save.

Brady Singer (1-4) took the loss for the Royals (14-25). He allowed five runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Singer put the first two runners of the game on second and third with no out, but allowed only a sacrifice fly to Edwin Encarnacion before getting out of the inning.

Whit Merrifield singled in the first, snapping an 0-for-17 streak. It also snapped a hitless streak for White Sox starter Dane Dunning, who threw five hitless innings in his last start, also against the Royals.

Singer again had runners on second and third with no outs in the second inning, and again escaped with allowing only one run, a Nick Madrigal single.

The Royals got one back in the second when Adalberto Mondesi drove in Alex Gordon with a two-out single, snapping an 0-for-22 skid. Mondesi finished with three hits.

Chicago got another run in the fourth on a pair of singles by Nomar Mazara and Madrigal and a sacrifice fly by Tim Anderson.

Chicago White Sox designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (23) slides into third base safely against Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Franco (7) during the fifth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

An RBI fielder's choice by Edward Olivares and another RBI single by Mondesi knotted the game at 3-3 in the fourth. The Royals had the bases loaded with one out and the top of the order coming up, but Merrifield popped up and Hunter Dozier grounded out.

The White Sox got another run in the fifth on a wild pitch by Singer, then chased him in the sixth. With two outs he gave up a single to Anderson. Jesse Hahn then replaced Singer and walked Yoan Moncada on 10 pitches. Four pitches later, Abreu doubled in Anderson and Moncada.

Jimenez' RBI double in the seventh added the seventh run.

The Royals got a run in the ninth, but Ryan McBroom grounded out representing the tying run.

--Field Level Media

[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.