Alex Gordon watches his three-run double in the first inning. (photo/MLB)
Alex Gordon drove in three runs and Jeremy Guthrie pitched into the sixth inning as the Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 7-5 in their home opener Friday.
Gordon hit a bases-clearing double in the first inning and Guthrie allowed four runs on seven hits, four walks and a hit batter in 5.2 innings.
Lorenzo Cain drove in two runs with a two-out fifth inning single that put the Royals ahead 7-2, who jumped on rookie Erik Johnson for six hits and four runs in the first two innings. Johnson retired only 14 of the 28 batters he faced, giving seven runs on 10 hits, three walks and a hit batter to take the loss.