Davidson homers twice, Sox beat Royals
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Matt Davidson hit 2 of the White Sox's 5 home runs, leading them to a 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night.
Davidson, who drove in 3 runs, has 7 homers this season - 5 against the Royals. He hit 3 out in the season opener March 29. In this game, he homered in the fourth and then hit a 2-run shot in the sixth that went 450 feet to left-center.
Yoan Moncada homered to open the first inning for the Sox for the second straight night, and Yolmer Sanchez and Trayce Thompson also went deep against Jakob Junis (3-2), who became the third pitcher in franchise history to allow 5 homers in a game. The others were Chris Young, May 9, 2016, at the New York Yankees, and Sean O'Sullivan, May, 28, 2011, at Texas.
Junis gave up 6 runs and 6 hits with 2 walks over 5 2/3 innings.
Lucas Giolito (1-3) earned his first victory, allowing 2 runs and 5 hits over 5 2/3 innings. His only hiccup was a Jorge Soler home run with Mike Moustakas aboard in the fourth.
The Royals loaded the bases with 1 out in the eighth and managed to score a run on Alcides Escobar's 2-out single. Joakim Soria worked a scoreless ninth for his third save in four chances.
The White Sox picked up just their second victory in 11 games. The Royals dropped to a Major League worst 1-10 at home.
The White Sox sent 1B Casey Gillaspie outright off the 40-man roster. Gillaspie, a 2014 first-round pick of the Rays, was hitting .214 with 29 strikeouts in 76 at-bats with Triple-A Charlotte.
The White Sox acquired OF Todd Cunningham from the Pirates for future considerations. He has spent parts of three seasons in the majors with the Braves and Angels.
White Sox manager Rick Renteria said RHP Danny Farquhar has been able to go on light walks with his wife as he continues to improve. He remains in stable condition in intensive care after suffering a brain aneurysm Saturday and collapsing in the dugout.
Renteria's mother, Angela, 91, died Wednesday. Renteria will miss the White Sox games Friday and Saturday to attend services in Austin, Texas.