Deja Blue: KC caps 3rd straight wild comeback

KANSAS CITY — For the third straight game, the Royals lit up the beleaguered White Sox bullpen, this time posting a three-run eighth inning to wipe out a two-run deficit on their way to a 5-4 victory on Sunday at Kauffman Stadium.

The three-game series sweep of the White Sox, who blew 5-1 and 7-1 leads in the first two games, catapulted the Royals into first place in the American League Central. The Indians are one-half game back, and the White Sox are one game out.

“We’re back in first place, which is nice,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “We’re playing good baseball. We were just kind of waiting to click on all cylinders, and we’re starting to now.”

“We never really lost our swagger,” Royals center field Lorenzo Cain said. “We just weren’t winning games. But we knew we could bounce back.”

White Sox right-hander Nate Jones gave up all three runs, the lead run coming home on rookie Cheslor Cuthbert’s infield single with the bases loaded. Cain got the rally started with his seventh homer of the season.

“[The offense] did their part. They gave us a lead,” Jones said. “Today was definitely my fault.”

Left-hander Chris Sale went seven innings for the White Sox and gave up seven hits and two runs while walking two and striking out seven.

Right-hander Edinson Volquez went six innings for the Royals and gave up three runs and seven hits.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED LoCain gives early, late spark: Cain got the Royals going in the first inning against Sale. With Whit Merrifield on first, Cain drilled a Sale fastball over center fielder Austin Jackson’s head and up against the wall in center. Merrifield scored easily. Cain then came home on Eric Hosmer’s sharp single to left-center. Cain then hammered a home run in the eighth inning to start the late rally.

Then came the here-we-go-again feeling for a club that swept the series despite trailing by multiple runs in the seventh inning or later in every game.

“We had a feeling after …

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