Eaton, Saladino homer as White Sox tip Royals 7-6

SURPRISE, Ariz. —Adam Eaton went 3-for-3 including a home run, Tyler Saladino hit a two-run homer and Avisail Garcia drove in two runs with a double and single to lift the White Sox to a 7-6 victory over the World Series champion Kansas City Royals on Saturday.

Carson Fulmer pitched two-plus innings in his Cactus League debut, allowing three runs on five hits and now walks. Fulmer was the Sox’ first-round draft choice last June.

“They’re aggressive,” Fulmer said of the Royals. “Usually they’re looking for one pitch early on and they’re going to square it up no matter what you throw. My first time facing them and I wanted to challenge them with my stuff. Going out and just doing everything I can just to pound the strike zone and just have them put the ball in play and they did that. ”

An aggressive Eaton saw four pitches and hit a double, opposite field homer and single. He was also thrown out trying to steal third base on Royals catcher Salvador Perez with a left-handed hitter up.

“Down here we’ve got some guys trying to figure some things out as far as jumps,’’ manager Robin Ventura said. “Probably not a good matchup to do that. That’s the stuff you have to figure out down here.’’

Third baseman Matt Davidson had two hits, including a double, and center fielder J.B. Shuck was 2-for-4. Left fielder Courtney Hawkins threw out Jorge Bonifacio at home for the third out of the eighth inning, preserving the Sox’ one-run lead.

Ian Kennedy pitched two innings in his debut with the Royals, who have lost four in a row to begin spring training. The Sox, who won their first spring game after a loss to the Dodgers and a tie with the Indians, got to Kennedy, who signed a $70 million, five-year contract with the Royals over the offseason, for one run and four hits.

Adam LaRoche left the game after two at-bats with a sore low back.