KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Edinson Volquez dazzled for eight innings in his Royals debut, Lorenzo Cain made a pair of spectacular catches after driving in a run, and Kansas City beat the Chicago White Sox 4-1 Thursday to finish a season-opening sweep.
Salvador Perez added a two-run homer, Kendrys Morales also drove in a run and the AL champion Royals improved to 3-0 for the first time since an opening sweep of Detroit in 2008.
Volquez (1-0) allowed four hits, including Alexei Ramirez’s RBI single, in validating the $20 million, two-year deal he signed in the offseason. Volquez struck out five while walking one.
Greg Holland worked a perfect ninth for his second save in less than 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the Royals pounded Chicago counterpart John Danks (0-1), who had been 7-0 in 16 career starts against them. Danks allowed all four runs on seven hits and a walk in 5 2-3 innings.
The White Sox sure looked to be in a hurry as they scrambled out of their dugout after the game. Not only were they swept in an opening series for the first time since 2004, they return for their home opener against Minnesota after losing to the Royals for the 14th time in 17 games.
The Royals took the lead on Cain’s RBI groundout in the first, but it was his two spectacular plays in center field that will make highlight reels. First, Cain collided with the wall at full speed to rob Adam LaRoche of a leadoff hit in the second. Then, he backed into the wall to catch a long fly ball by Micah Johnson that ended the third.
Morales added an RBI double off Danks in the sixth inning, and Perez chased the left-hander a couple of batters later when he sent a full-count pitch into the bullpen in left field.
It was the sixth homer of the series for the Royals, who needed 15 games to hit their first six last season. They went on to finish last in the majors in home runs.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
The game was delayed nearly 5 minutes in the first inning when Kauffman Stadium’s phone system went down. With no communication to their bullpens or replay officials, the managers would have had to challenge plays only on their own observations. Service was restored in the third inning.
TRAINER’S ROOM
White Sox: LHP Chris Sale (broken right foot) is expected to start Sunday against the Twins.
Royals: RHP Luke Hochevar (Tommy John surgery) began a rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Omaha at New Orleans. The hard-throwing reliever missed all of last season.
UP NEXT
White Sox: RHP Hector Noesi, claimed by Chicago off waivers last season, will start his club’s home opener Friday afternoon against Minnesota.
Royals: LHP Jason Vargas faces his former team Friday night when Kansas City opens a six-game road trip with the first of three games against the Angels.