CHICAGO (AP) A allotment of the AL Central was up for grabs. The Kansas City Royals couldn't absolutely ability it.
The Royals blown a adventitious to move into a tie for the analysis lead, accident to Jose Abreu and the Chicago White Sox, 5-4 on Saturday night.
''We absolutely let one get away,'' Royals aboriginal baseman Eric Hosmer said. ''We had a lot of opportunities, guys on abject to alpha innings. But we aloof didn't get it done.''
The Detroit Tigers, who absent 12-3 at Minnesota on Saturday, remained one bold advanced of the Royals entering the final day of the approved season. Kansas City clinched at atomic an AL agrarian agenda on Friday.
By advantage of a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Oakland Athletics, if the Royals are in the agrarian agenda bold it will be played in Kansas City.
''We're activity to be aflame that we got home acreage advantage,'' Royals administrator Ned Yost said. ''But again, it's all activity to appear bottomward to (Sunday). We'll see what happens. Minnesota is accomplishing a abundant job arena Detroit.''
Danny Duffy (9-12) lasted alone two innings for the Royals. He accustomed four runs, bristles hits and one walk. The White Sox jumped on him, scoring three runs in the aboriginal inning. Abreu capped the assemblage with his 36th home run.
''I didn't accept any command,'' Duffy said. ''I didn't accept my best being is the best way to put it.''
Abreu bankrupt a 31-year-old authorization almanac for the best homers in a division by a rookie, ahead captivated by Ron Kittle. They are the best by a amateur aback St. Louis' Albert Pujols hit 37 in 2001.
White Sox catcher Josh Phegley homered in the additional and seventh innings for his aboriginal career multihomer game.
John Danks (11-11) pitched seven solid innings to acquire his aboriginal home win aback June 17. He accustomed two runs, bristles hits and two walks, and addled out three.
''Every time we face him, we absolutely attempt offensively,'' Yost said of Danks. ''He's got our cardinal appropriate now, that bedraggled rat.''
The Royals army a assemblage in the eighth inning adjoin Chicago's bullpen. Afterwards the aboriginal two batters reached, Lorenzo Cain singled home Alcides Escobar to cut the arrears to 5-3. But Hosmer hit into a bifold play, and Billy Butler ashore out to end the threat.
Kansas City threatened afresh in the ninth. Mike Moustakas singled in Alex Gordon with two outs, but the Royals fell one run short.
Javy Guerra able the jam for his aboriginal save of the season.
Salvador Perez hit a abandoned attempt in the seventh inning for his 17th homer.
Paul Konerko, who will retire at season's end, was accustomed by the White Sox during a pregame ceremony. The White Sox apparent a bronze of Konerko, gave him several gifts, and displayed a alternation of video tributes from ex-teammates and players about the big leagues, including one from backward New York Yankees ambush Derek Jeter.
''I accept to apologize for the game,'' Konerko said. ''To go out and try to comedy a bold afterwards that ... I'm appealing acceptable about distractions, but that day, no way. I was a blend out there.''
Konerko went 0-for-3 and exited in the seventh inning to a continuing ovation. He again alternate to the acreage for a blind call.
TRAINER'S ROOM:
White Sox: RHP Jake Petricka larboard in the ninth inning due to a annealed lower back. He was attempting to acquire his 15th save of the season.
Royals: INF Christian Colon, who is convalescent from a burst average feel on his appropriate hand, hasn't been activated from the disabled list. He was acceptable to acknowledgment on Sept. 22.
UP NEXT:
Royals RHP Yordano Ventura (14-10, 3.07) will face White Sox RHP Chris Bassitt (1-1, 3.65) on Sunday in the final bold of the approved season.
POWER OUTAGE:
Salvador Perez's home run was the 95th for the Royals this season. They are the alone aggregation in the majors beneath 100.