Royals hope to get to Sale, sweep struggling White Sox
If last year's postseason didn't prove that no lead is safe against the Kansas City Royals, the last two games unquestionably have.
After delivering the largest ninth-inning comeback in franchise history, the ever-resilient Royals look to continue their mastery over the reeling Chicago White Sox in Sunday's finale of a three-game series.
Kansas City overcame a four-run deficit after 5 1/2 innings to win Friday's opener 7-5, then topped that feat with a incredible late rally Saturday. Trailing by six entering the ninth, the Royals scored seven times to come away with an improbable 8-7 victory.
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Four of the runs came with two out, with Brett Eibner's bases-loaded single completing the comeback. The rookie collected his first major league hit with a seventh-inning double that sparked Friday's rally.
The clubhouse mood wasn't entirely jovial, however, after the Royals were dealt another injury to a key player. Catcher Salvador Perez exited with a quad injury after colliding with teammate Cheslor Cuthbert on a foul popup in the top of the ninth.
Perez, who went 0 for 3 to have a 12-game hitting streak end, underwent an MRI following the game. His injury comes less than a week after Kansas City lost third baseman Mike Moustakas to a season-ending torn ACL from a collision with Alex Gordon, who broke a bone in his right wrist and is expected to miss a month.
"We won the game, but that will be the more important win if we find out nothing serious with him happened," first baseman Eric Hosmer said. "Salvy is our guy. He's the leader of this team. He's an All-Star. He's everything. When you see a guy like that goes down, it fires you up."
Kansas City (26-22), which recorded eight comeback wins during last year's run to a World Series title, also has been without designated hitter Kendrys Morales for the last three games due to a sprained finger.
Another hurdle awaits in the finale in the form of Chris Sale (9-1, 2.26 ERA), though the Royals may be catching the Chicago ace at the right time. The standout left-hander had his season-opening nine-start winning streak snapped when he was tagged for six runs in 3 1/3 innings in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to Cleveland.
Sale had allowed six earned runs total over his previous seven outings and yielded two in complete games against the Yankees and Houston in his two prior starts.
He hasn't fared particularly well recently against Kansas City, nor have the White Sox as a team. They've lost six of the last seven meetings and are 14-29 in the series since 2014.
Sale is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA over his last three meetings with Kansas City and several Royals have hit him well. Alcides Escobar is hitting .385 off him and Lorenzo Cain .349 with three homers.
Chicago (27-23) has lost a season-high five straight and 13 of its last 17.
"It's tough, especially after (Friday)," manager Robin Ventura said. "As difficult as (Friday) was, you get yourself some runs and get into a position where you can earn a win. Then that last inning, a couple walks, a tipped ball, things like that. You can't close it out, and you get punished like that."
Edinson Volquez (5-4, 3.67) tries to extend Chicago's misfortune and earn a third win in four starts. He's coming off Tuesday's 6 2/3-inning stint at Minnesota in which he allowed two earned runs in a 7-4 victory.
Volquez went 1-2 with a 1.80 ERA in four 2015 starts against the White Sox, receiving nine runs of support in those games.
