Ventura goes distance as Royals thump Sox

KANSAS CITY — There’s a little life left yet in the defending World Series champions.

After dropping five straight games to open a crucial homestand, pushing them to the brink of postseason contention, the Royals have bounced back with three straight wins, the latest an 8-3 triumph over the White Sox on Monday in a makeup game at Kauffman Stadium.

Red-hot Kendrys Morales, Paulo Orlando and Alcides Escobar all homered, with Escobar establishing a new career high with his sixth homer. The Royals’ magic number to be eliminated from the second Wild Card spot in the American League remained at nine, pending the outcome of the Mariners-Blue Jays game.

Yordano Ventura started for Kansas City and pitched the club’s second nine-inning complete game of the season — Danny Duffy had the other — and the first of his career. Ventura gave up nine hits, walked one and struck out five.

White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon was chased with no outs in the fifth inning and was charged with six earned runs on eight hits, including three homers. Jose Abreu hit his 25th homer for the White Sox, and Carlos Sanchez hit his second of the series.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDStay hot, Big Ken: Morales delivered a deep drive in the fifth, a three-run shot that finished Rodon’s day. Morales now has nine homers and 30 RBIs in his last 21 games. And he finished the eight-game homestand with …

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