Salvador Perez and Whit Merrifield homered and Daniel Lynch pitched into the sixth inning in his first action in more than two weeks to boost the visiting Kansas City Royals to a 2-1 victory against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.
Kansas City won its second straight on the heels of a five-game losing streak behind an opportunistic attack and a bounce-back effort from Lynch, who was activated from the injured list before the game. The lefty had been sidelined with a blister on the index finger of his pitching hand.
Lynch (4-7) scattered six hits and struck out seven in 5 1/3 scoreless innings. He did not issue a walk for the first time in 16 starts this season.
Scott Barlow capped a strong effort from the Royals' bullpen, allowing two hits in two shutout innings while striking out two to earn his 17th save. The White Sox again fell short of securing their first three-game home winning streak of the season, with Tim Anderson grounding into a double play to end the night.
Perez connected for a solo shot, his third home run in four games since returning from thumb surgery, to open the scoring in the fourth. Merrifield homered two innings later.
Those were the blemishes during an otherwise solid night for Chicago righty Michael Kopech (4-7), who spaced two runs and six hits in seven innings with one walk and three strikeouts.
The White Sox collected two hits and a walk in the seventh but managed just one run on a Gavin Sheets sacrifice fly. Chicago outhit Kansas City 10-6 but left nine on base while going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
Anderson, still active as he appeals a three-game suspension he received Saturday for bumping umpire Nick Mahrley the night before, had two hits.
Teammate Eloy Jimenez singled twice to extend his hitting streak to a season-best seven games. Andrew Vaughn also had two hits.
Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who was hit in the hand by a pitch Sunday, was held out of the lineup as he also contends with hamstring tightness. Nicky Lopez had two hits for the Royals.
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