The Royals fell behind on a Melky Cabrera grand slam, but the youth in revolt compelled Kansas City to a 7-5 victory over the White Sox Friday night.
The Czar of Gnar cruised thru five innings, but ran into trouble in the sixth. With the bases loaded, Melky Cabrera deposited an offering over the wall, plating four runs and turning a small victory into a large deficit. Duffy would give up another home run in the inning before being pulled. In 5.1 innings, he gave up just five hits with zero walks and five strikeouts, but that Chicago efficiency converted five hits into five runs.
In the seventh, new faces turned that deficit into a lead. After Chess Lord grounded out, Brett Eibner doubled into left field, the first hit of his career in his first start. Jarrod Dyson drew a walk, and then Alcides Escobar reached on an infield single to load the bases. Whit the Hit Merrifield then singled, scoring Eibner and the speedy Dyson to cut the White Sox lead. Following a wild pitch, Escobar and Merrifield each moved up a base. The umpire ruling on the field called Escobar out, but he was ruled safe upon review. Following a Lorenzo Cain strikeout, Eric Hosmer singled into left field, scoring Escobar and Merrifield to put the Royals up 6-5.
Kansas City added a run in the eighth. Paulo Orlando singled, followed by a Cheslor Cuthbert single. Then, Eibner sacrificed the runners over, allowing Dyson to hit a sacrifice fly to plate Orlando.
Crime Horse had four RBI on the day, including his ninth home run on the year. Whit Merrifield had his first two career RBI as well. Eibner went 1-for-3 with a run scored in his major league debut.
Wade Davis came on for the ninth and, following a leadoff single, retired the next three hitters in order, looking much more like the Cyborg he is than the human he has shown.
Tomorrow, Kansas City looks to take their fifth consecutive series (and second against the White Sox in a week) as Yordano Ventura (4-3, 4.81) takes on Carlos Rodon (2-4, 4.47).