Kansas City Royals vs Chicago White Sox Match Player Stats On May 15, 2021

Salvador Perez's three-run home run off Carlos Rodon lifted the Kansas City Royals to a 5-1 victory over the White Sox on Saturday in Chicago. Mike Minor gave up two hits in seven innings for the Royals.

Minor (3-2) picked up the win, allowing one run. He walked two and struck out seven. It was Minor's first quality start of the season and only the second time he's pitched at least six innings.

The White Sox are now 22-2 against left-handed starters since the beginning of 2020. Both losses came in games started by Minor.

Rodon (5-1) took the loss. He gave up four runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out five. He raised his ERA from an American League-best 0.58 to 1.47.

Rodon, who had allowed just one run on two hits over 15 innings in two starts at home, gave up one run on two hits in the first inning. Whit Merrifield led off with a double off the wall in left. Carlos Santana walked and then the Royals executed a double steal. Jorge Soler's RBI single drove in Merrifield.

Merrifield and Santana repeated their efforts in the third, with Santana drawing his American League-leading 33rd walk. This time Rodon was not as fortunate. Perez hit an opposite-field three-run home run. It was the second home run Rodon has allowed this season.

Merrifield's two doubles matched the total number of doubles Rodon has allowed this season.

Jose Abreu, back in the lineup after leaving in the second inning of Friday's first game following a collision with the Royals' Hunter Dozier, hit his eighth home run in the fourth, the first hit off Minor. The home run gave Abreu 33 RBIs. He entered the game one behind Boston's JD Martinez for the major league lead.

The White Sox threatened in the eighth, putting two runners on with two outs, but reliever Scott Barlow got Yoan Moncada to ground out.

Santana's home run in the ninth gave the Royals their final tally.

--Field Level Media