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Chicago White Sox roll past Royals for 4th straight win

Avisail Garcia has been carrying the Chicago White Sox's offense since the season started, and the right fielder did some more heavy lifting on Wednesday afternoon.

The timing couldn't have been better, considering hard-luck lefty Jose Quintana was on the mound.

Entering his start against the Kansas City Royals with an 0-4 record, Quintana also had zero runs of support when he was in the game in each of his last three outings.

The Sox quickly staked him to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. With the game tied at 2 in the sixth, Garcia hit a mammoth 2-run homer to center field, powering Quintana to his first win on the season.

"It's amazing," Quintana said. "He hit the ball at the right time. It was a good time. He told me, 'That's for you.' I was happy with that."

The White Sox beat the Royals 5-2 at Guaranteed Rate Field to complete a three-game sweep while extending their overall winning streak to four games.

Quintana pitched 6 innings against a struggling K.C. team that has dropped seven straight. He allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits and 2 walks to go with 10 strikeouts.

"I needed this outing," Quintana said. "I felt really good on the mound. It was extra motivation to win my first one. (Catcher Geovany) Soto called a good game, and we focused the whole game. I threw the ball well."

Garcia, who leads the American League with a .373 batting average, continues to hit the ball well. His 2-run homer off Royals starter Nate Karns soared 437 feet and was his fourth of the season.

Garcia was, naturally, lifting weights after the game and not available for questions. Teammate Todd Frazier was happy to speak for him.

"His approach hasn't changed," Frazier said. "He had an 0-for-4 day the other day and he kept it simple again. Kept his hands in tight and drove the ball. Not just feeling for it, driving it.

"Look at the size of him. He could be a tight end for the Bears. He's working his tail off. He understands you need to get off to a good start and keep it going. He's having a spectacular year."

With 2 doubles in as many at-bats against Karns, Jose Abreu was having a spectacular game before leaving in the fifth inning with a groin injury.

Abreu moved to his right to field a Cheslor Cuthbert groundball, which he dropped for an error. Abreu slipped on the play and wound up doing the splits. He will be re-evaluated before Friday's game at Detroit and is listed as day-to-day.

"I feel good right now," Abreu said through an interpreter. "I got treatment and I feel good. The day off tomorrow is going to help and I hope to be ready for the first game in Detroit."

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