Sale completes comeback as Sox foil Royals

KANSAS CITY — The Royals’ once vaulted bullpen is springing leaks everywhere.

This time it was Kelvin Herrera who was called upon to protect a two-run lead against the White Sox. Herrera promptly gave up four runs — three on Carlos Sanchez’s first homer this season — in the eighth inning of a 7-4 loss on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium.

It was the seventh bullpen meltdown since Aug. 30, and the Royals’ fifth straight loss. Their number for postseason elimination dropped to 10, pending the Blue Jays- Angels outcome. Toronto holds one of the two Wild Card spots in the American League.

White Sox left-hander Chris Sale carried a perfect game into the fifth before Salvador Perez singled with one out. Sale went the distance, giving up eight hits, four runs (three earned), walking one and striking out 10.

Royals starter Ian Kennedy (12-9) struggled mightily with his command though two innings, throwing 54 pitches, and walked three. But Kennedy began to attack hitters after that and made it through six innings, giving up five hits and two runs.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDOut of nowhere: Perez got things going in the fifth with a solid single up the middle with one out — the first runner to reach off Sale. Cheslor Cuthbert then lined a shot just fair down the third-base line, sending Perez to third with two …

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