The Kansas City Royals took the first game of a three-game home series against Chicago on Friday night, winning 4-2. A seventh-inning double by Royals catcher Salvador Perez drove home Mike Moustakas and Alcides Escobar, breaking a 2-2 tie and giving the Royals a two-run lead they would hold through the remainder of the game.
A second inning home run by Lorenzo Cain got the Royals started, but White Sox designated hitter Paul Konerko tied the game with a solo homer of his own in the fourth. A Gordon Beckham fifth-inning single drove home Alexi Ramirez, giving Chicago the lead. Then Kansas City tied things up in the sixth on a Billy Butler home run, setting the stage for Perez's winner in the seventh.
Royals starter Luis Mendoza earned the win, pitching seven innings and conceding just two runs on four hits while striking out six. Kelvin Herrera contributed an inning of relief work, and Greg Holland picked up the save after pitching a scoreless ninth inning. White Sox pitcher Chris Sale took the loss.
The Royals' win was dampened by news that Chris Getz broke his thumb and will miss the rest of the season after being hit by a pitch while bunting in the fifth inning.
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Kansas City. For more on the Royals, make sure to check out the discussion and analysis over at Royals Review. For more news and notes from around the world of professional baseball, visit Baseball Nation.