Eric Hosmer’s two-run homer against closer David Robertson with two outs in the 10th inning lifted the Kansas City Royals to a 5-3 victory over the White Sox Wednesday night.
Jose Abreu hit his 30th homer and Tyler Flowers matched a career high with four hits including a game-tying RBI double in the eighth for the Sox (74-84) who out-hit the Royals 13-7.
Tough-luck left-hander Jose Quintana, hoping to win 10 games after three straight seasons with nine victories, allowed three runs over nine innings and was tagged with the 52nd no-decision of his career. He gave up five hits, including a solo homer to Alex Gordon and two-run homer to Mike Moustakas. Quintana walked two and struck out eight.
Quintana threw 117 pitches and finished the season with a 9-10 record and 3.36 ERA.
“Once again, Quintana did exactly what you want him to,” Robertson said. “He’s been a workhorse all year and he gave us nine innings, three runs, an exceptional performance by him. I just wasn’t able to nail it down there in the 10th and give us another chance to score a run. Felt like I threw the ball really well, made one mistake, and Hosmer made me pay for it. It’s tough.”
Adam Eaton extended his on-base streak to 19 games and drove in the Sox first run against Edinson Volquez with a single in the second inning. The Sox had three singles in each of the first two innings but had only Mike Olt’s run to show for it.
Abreu, who homered against Luke Hochaver in the seventh, needs one more RBI to join Albert Pujols as the only players with 30 homers and 100 RBI in each of their first two seasons. Abreu, Pujols and Ryan Braun are the only players to record 30-plus home runs in each of their first two seasons, Abreu being the only American Leaguer.
Robertson (6-5) struck out two. Wade Davis pitched a perfect 10th to collect his 15th save for the Royals (91-67), who pulled within a game of the Blue Jays for home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs.
