Melky Cabrera Continues To Lead Royals Offense In 5-1 Win Over Chicago

After a terribly disappointing opening to the road trip against the Rays, Kansas City got back on track Friday evening in a 5-1 victory at U.S. Cellular Field against the White Sox.

Bruce Chen provided the Royals with six strong innings of one hit baseball as he earned his seventh win of the season. Chen has now allowed three earned runs or less in each of the last three outings since giving up 10 runs on July 27th to the Red Sox at Fenway.

It was Melky Cabrera and Billy Butler leading the way at the plate as Butler singled in the first to drive in Alex Gordon, Butler would then hit a home run to center in the fifth against White Sox starter Zach Stewart. For Butler it was his 14th home run of the year.

Stewart was making his second start for Chicago since being acquired last month from the Toronto Blue Jays. He only allowed two runs, but took the loss in falling to 1-2.

In the ninth inning against reliever Matt Thornton, Cabrera hit his 15th home run, this being a three-run blast to give Kansas City a 5-0 lead. Cabrera now has a career high 70 RBI as well. With two hits on the night he also saw his average raise to .310 for the year.

Gordon and Alcides Escobar also contributed two hits each for the Royals as well, while Greg Holland earned his second career save in the 5-1 win. Holland did give up one run in the bottom of the ninth on a Juan Pierre RBI single.

Luke Hochevar (8-8 4.79 ERA) will be taking on Jake Peavy on Saturday evening as the Royals look to make it two win in a row. 

Kansas City is now 50-69, but sits just 2.5 games behind the Twins for fourth place.