A zombie apocalypse at The K: White Sox 12, Royals 1
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- If the Royals had it their way, John Danks might not be invited back to Kansas City.
Danks threw a complete game, and Adam Eaton matched his career high with four hits, including a three-run homer, as the Chicago White Sox beat the Royals 12-1 Friday night.
The Royals had 27 runs and 34 hits in crushing Detroit the previous two games.
Danks (7-12), who snapped a personal four-game losing streak, owns a 10-2 record in 21 career starts against the Royals. Three of his victories this season are over the AL Central-leading Royals, and he has a 2.14 career ERA at Kauffman Stadium.
Royals manager Ned Yost has no explanation for why Danks, who has a career record 18 games below .500, dominates the Royals.
"If you figure it out, let me know, because I have not figured it out," Yost said. "I mean seriously, I haven't. Certain players have certain teams that they do really well against. It's like certain players have certain pitchers that they do well against and other guys that they don't and there's just no explanation for it. I don't know. He just pitches well against us every time he steps on that mound."
Lorenzo Cain failed to get the ball out of the infield in three at-bats off Danks, ending his season-high 11-game hitting streak.
"Just a lot of off-speed, as usual," Cain said. "He was locating very well tonight, just kept us off balance all night.
"You know what he's featuring each and every time you face him, but there's just something about him that we haven't figured out yet, so I'd say he was definitely locating very well tonight, probably the best I've seen him locate."
Alexei Ramirez also had four hits -- tying his career high -- drove in two runs and scored three times. Tyler Flowers also hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning.
Eaton went back-to-back with Jose Abreu, his 25th, in a five-run eighth off Jeremy Guthrie.
Kris Medlen (3-1), who had allowed just six runs and nine hits over 11 1/3 innings in his first two starts, was roughed up for seven runs on 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings.
"I had a big issue with my curveball today, getting that down," Medlen said. "And just a frustrating day overall."
The Royals avoided a shutout when Kendrys Morales' sacrifice fly in the ninth scored Alcides Escobar.
NUMBERS AND STATS
The White Sox won their first game at Kauffman Stadium after dropping the first six. ... Ramirez's four-hit game was the 14th of his career, while Eaton accomplished it eight times. ... Danks threw a season-high 121 pitches, two shy of his career high.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: 3B Mike Moustakas (hamstring strain) was out of the lineup for the fourth consecutive game. ... RHP Kelvin Herrera and OF Alex Rios worked out in the morning at Kauffman Stadium for the first time since contracting chickenpox. They left before the rest of the team arrived.
UP NEXT
White Sox: LHP Jose Quintana has a 5.63 ERA in four no-decisions against the Royals this season.
Royals: LHP Danny Duffy is 5-2 with a 3.08 ERA in his past 11 starts after going 2-4 with a 5.44 ERA in his first 10 starts.
