1 of 2 | Kansas City Royals' Eric Hosmer. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI |
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Eric Hosmer homered and drove in four runs, one shy of his career high, and Whit Merrifield singled in two runs in a four-run seventh as the Kansas City Royals came from behind to top the Chicago White Sox 7-5 Friday night.
The White Sox took a 5-1 lead in sixth when they scored all their runs. Royals left-hander Danny Duffy was perfect for 5 1/3 innings before allowing three straight singles. Melky Cabrera then hit a grand slam, his first since July 29, 2011 while with the Royals.
Five pitches later Todd Frazier belted his 15th home run, which ties for the American League lead, and finish Duffy's night.
Hosmer homered in the bottom of the lead to trim the lead to 5-2.
The Royals bunched four hits, a walk and took advantage of a Matt Albers wild pitch to score four runs in the seventh to take the lead. Merrifield's single scored Brett Eibner, who doubled for his first big league hit, and Jarrod Dyson.
Hosmer's two-out single scored Alcides Escobar and Merrifield.
Dyson's sacrifice fly in the eighth got Paulo Orlando home for an insurance run.
Peter Moylan (2-0), the third of five Kansas City pitchers, picked up the victory, while Albers (1-4) absorbed the loss.
Wade Davis picked up his 13th save in 14 attempts.
The White Sox have lost four straight and 10 of 13. Their AL Central lead is a half-game over Cleveland and a game over Kansas City.
Duffy, who was making only his third start after beginning the season in the bullpen, retired the first 16 White Sox he faced, striking out five in the first five innings, including the side in the second.
Duffy, who was pumping out a 97 mph fastball, was on a restricted 80 pitch count. He threw 57 in the first five innings.
The Royals scored a run in the first off 31-year-old right-hander Miguel Gonzalez, who was making his 100th career start.
Escobar singled on Gonzalez's first pitch and stopped at second on Merrifield's ground ball single. Escobar took third on Lorenzo Cain's fly out to right-fielder Avisail Garcia and scored on Hosmer's chopper to first baseman Jose Abreu.
Jarrod Dyson singled in the fifth for the Royals, making him 8-for-10 versus Gonzalez.
NOTES: The Thursday night rainout will be made up Sept. 19 at Kansas City. ... The White Sox realigned their rotation again and will start LHP Chris Sale in the series finale Sunday at Kansas City, instead of pushing him back to Monday against the Mets. ... Royals DH Kendrys Morales was held out of the lineup with a sprained right middle finger and is likely be out for three or four days. Morales hurt the finger Tuesday. Brett Eibner, who was making his major league debut, was the Royals designated hitter. ... RF Adam Eaton, who is 2-for-17 in his past four games, was not in the lineup. Avisail Garcia, who is normally the designated hitter, made his third start in right. ... RHP Chris Young will be used out of the Royals bullpen when he comes off the disabled list after making seven starts to begin the season. ... White Sox LHP Carlos Rondon and Royals RHP Yordano Ventura are the Saturday probables.
