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Melky delivers as Rodon shuns Royals
- Updated: May 22, 2016
CHICAGO — Melky Cabrera delivered a two-run single to center on an 0-2 pitch from Yordano Ventura with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth, helping the White Sox to a 3-2 victory before 34,526 on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field. The White Sox prevented a Kansas City sweep, although Chicago has a 1-5-1 record in the last seven series.
Alex Avila opened the bottom of the fifth by drawing a walk and moved to second on Austin Jackson’s single. Two outs later, Todd Frazier drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases for Cabrera. White Sox hitters were 0-for-18 with runners in scoring position during this series until that moment.
“It was big one when Fraz got us on the board [with a fourth-inning homer], but the one with Melky, we’ve been scuffling with guys on base, especially with two outs,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “It was just a clutch hit for us. It kind of relieved a lot of pressure. And the way [Carlos Rodon] is pitching, it just kind of moved us in the direction we needed to go.”
Rodon earned the victory, yielding eight hits and two runs over 6 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking two. His only perfect inning came in the first, but the left-hander managed to limit the damage. Ventura gave up three runs on six hits through six, striking out three and walking four.
“[Ventura] made a mistake to Melky,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Outside of that, I thought he pitched great. Limited the damage a couple of times, had chances for them to bunch together some hits and get some big innings going, but he did a nice job of containing that.”
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MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDScary collision: When Cabrera popped up into foul territory with two outs in the seventh, Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas raced back. Left fielder Alex Gordon ran in. The result was a knee-to-knee collision that left both players on the ground for several seconds as pitcher Luke Hochevar raced out to check on his teammates. Both players got up and stayed in the game, but the Royals pinch-hit Whit Merrifield for Gordon in the eighth. The Royals listed Gordon day to day with a right wrist …
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