Lorenzo Cain connects for a three-run homer off Sox starter Chris Sale (photo/MLB)
Lorenzo Cain hit a three-run homer, as the Royals finally figured out Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale in a 6-2 win Wednesday night. That combined with an 8-4 Minnesota win over Detroit, closes the Royals deficit to a half-game in the AL Central.
Alcides Escobar also homered and Nori Aoki went 3 for 4 to finish with 11 hits in the series. Yordano Ventura picked up the win to get to 13-10. He allowed three hits and two walks over seven innings, and the only run given up came on a sac fly that came in the third.
The White Sox had the bases loaded with no outs and Adam Eaton hit the sac fly for a 1-0 lead, but Ventura struck out the next two batters to get out of the jam. Then the Royals offense went to work.
Escobar and Aoki hit back-to-back singles before Cain sent a pitch over the left-field wall. Escobar added his solo shot off Sale with two outs in the fourth. Aoki’s 11 hits broke the Royals record for a three-game series that had been shared by George Brett (1982) and Willie Wilson (1980).
The Royals have Thursday off before starting a key series with Detroit on Friday.