The Chicago White Sox were bringing back All-Star starter Chris Sale on nine days rest and with the exception of two mistakes, he kept the Royals off balance in a 4-2 lost to the AL Central Division leaders.
Sale gave up eight hits while striking out seven without a walk. He gave up solo homers to Jeff Francoeur and Billy Butler’s 21st, but otherwise kept the Royals off-balance, with his fastball consistently in the mid-90s.
Meanwhile Royals starter Luis Mendoza gave up homers to Paul Konerko and Gordon Beckham in the seventh and eighth and suffered the loss. Mendoza (5-8) gave up seven hits and four runs in 7 1/3 innings.
