The Royals had won seven of their last eight over the Chicago White Sox, with Luke Hochevar pitching well in two of those wins. However, Tuesday night, Hochevar gave up three solo homers in a 3-2 loss. The Sox won their fifth in a row and maintained a three game lead over Detroit for the AL Central lead.
Alejandro De Aza hit the second pitch of the game into the right field bullpen and Gordon Beckham went deep in the sixth to tie the game at 2-2.
Billy Butler singled in two runs off Sox starter Gavin Floyd in the bottom of the first to give the Royals a 2-1 lead. It was Butler’s 97th RBI, a career high.
In the seventh, Hochevar gave up the lead on a homer by Alex Rios, his 24th. Hochevar allowed seven hits in seven innings. He struck out four and walked none.