Royals rally past Sox, close in on playoff spot

As he prepares for retirement after Sunday's game at U.S. Cellular Field, Paul Konerko is wrapping up his second straight losing season with the White Sox.

But the 38-year-old captain sees better days ahead for the franchise.

"It feels like there's a lot more of a foundation now and a direction of what they're doing," Konerko said before the Sox lost to the Kansas City Royals 6-3 Thursday night. "It's going to happen. Things go in cycles. Some of these other teams that are doing good, their cycle will end of doing good. They'll get a turn there at some point. It's just a natural thing. Hopefully the White Sox will be waiting and will grab onto that when they get their opening. You can see it."

The Royals (87-72) inched closer to their first playoff appearance since 1985 with the win, but it wasn't easy.

The Sox (72-87) took a 2-1 lead in the second inning on Josh Phegley's home run off K.C. ace James Shields, and Jordan Danks' RBI single in the fourth made it 3-1.

But the Royals stormed back with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to tie it and they took the lead for good in the eighth on Billy Butler's fielder's choice groundout and Alex Gordon's run-scoring single.

Check back throughout the weekend for more coverage on Konerko's final days with the White Sox.