Royals touch luck starter James Shields is pitching well out of the gates. (MLB photo)
The Royals were stymied by lefty starter Chris Sale, who gave up just four singles in eight scoreless innings, as the Chicago White Sox beat the Royals 5-1, avoiding the sweep. Alexei Ramirez and Tyler Flowers each drove in a pair of runs as the White Sox won the series finale after the Royals won the first two games.
James Shields (0-1) took the loss giving up a run on five hits, striking out six, walking none and hitting two batters in seven innings. He’s faced Sale and Justin Verlander in his first two starts of the season.
The Royals gave up 13 runs in the three game series, but won two of the games. On Saturday, Salvador Perez hit a go-ahead RBI double with two outs in the eighth inning for a 4-3 win. Alex Gordon doubled off left-hander Scott Downs (0-1) before Perez hit for Cardinal Maikel Cleto’s second pitch down the left-field line.