Todd Frazier tied for the AL lead with his 13th home run, Melky Cabrera drove in two runs and the White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 Sunday to avoid getting swept for the first time this season.
Carlos Rodon (2-4) allowed two runs and pitched into the seventh inning for his first victory since April 13. David Robertson got three outs for his 11th save in 13 chances, helping the AL Central leaders win for just the third time in 11 games.
Lorenzo Cain and Paulo Orlando had two hits apiece for the World Series champions, who had won six of their previous eight.
Yordano Ventura (4-3) gave up three runs and six hits in six innings for the Royals, who were trying for their first road series sweep. He is 3-0 in four home starts but 1-3 in five road games.
Rodon allowed eight hits and struck out four in his first time facing Kansas City. The Sox lost his previous four starts.
Kansas City had four singles — including Orlando’s two-out RBI hit — to take the lead in the second. Orlando drove in three of the Royals’ eight runs in the series. He also doubled and is hitting .370 (20 for 54) against Chicago.
Frazier’s homer, which matched Baltimore’s Mark Trumbo for the AL lead, brought Chicago even in the fourth.
Todd Frazier singles in the inning against the Kansas City Royals at U.S. Cellular Field. Frazier later hit a solo home run to right field. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Cabrera put the Sox ahead with a two-run single in the fifth on an 0-2 pitch. Omar Infante had a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
Orlando robbed Austin Jackson of an extra-base hit with a runner on third in the sixth by making a catch against the right-field wall.
Closer David Robertson, right, celebrates with catcher Alex Avila. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
A BREAK
Struggling Sox first baseman Jose Abreu had the day off. He is hitting .243 with six home runs and 39 strikeouts. Jerry Sands started at first base and DH Jimmy Rollins hit second.
“I’ve been swinging at a lot of pitches out of the zone and that’s not my approach,” Abreu said through an interpreter. “I have to regroup and I have to work to be on my successful path.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Royals: 3B Mike Moustakas and LF Alex Gordon collided while pursuing a foul popup in the seventh. Both remained in the game, and Whit Merrifield pinch hit for Gordon the next inning.
Sox minor league catcher Kevan Smith was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list and optioned to Triple-A Charlotte before Sunday’s game. He was on the DL since April 26 (retroactive to April 24) with sacroiliac joint dysfunction. He has yet to play in the majors.
UP NEXT
Right-hander Mat Latos (5-1, 4.00) is to start a doubleheader opener Monday against Cleveland and right-hander Mike Clevinger (0-0, 6.75). Right-hander Erik Johnson (0-1, 7.20) is to start the second game for Chicago against right-hander Cody Anderson (0-3, 7.99).
