Royals 3 - 1 White Sox
Final
  for this game

Royals in playoffs for first time since '85

Sep 27, 2014 - 4:53 AM Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - The last time the Kansas City Royals made the playoffs, they won the World Series.

That was nearly three decades ago.

Nori Aoki, Lorenzo Cain and Billy Butler each drove in a run during a three- run first inning, and that's all the Royals would need as they clinched a postseason berth for the first time since 1985 with a 3-1 win over Chicago on Friday.

Jeremy Guthrie (13-11) was sharp in seven scoreless innings, limiting the White Sox to four hits and walk with six strikeouts. Guthrie improved to 3-1 over five starts against Chicago this season.

Kansas City clinched at least a spot in the AL wild card, but trails Detroit by just one game in the AL Central with both teams having two games left.

"I live within my own heart," said Royals manager Ned Yost. "I know what these guys can do. I don't need somebody to tell me what they can do or what they can't do. I've been telling you guys for two or three years that this is a club that has the opportunity to go the playoffs and win a world championship. I believed it."

Hector Noesi (8-12) was handed the loss after he went six innings and allowed three runs on six hits.

Alexei Ramirez drove in the lone run for the White Sox, who have lost four straight.

"It's special for them," White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko said. "They should be proud of it. This has kind of been a few years in the making with that crew."

Aoki opened the scoring with an RBI triple and Cain followed with a run- scoring single for a 2-0 lead. Following Eric Hosmer's strikeout, Cain stole his 28th base of the season and Butler stroked an RBI up the middle to give the visitors a three-run cushion.

The Royals' offense seemed content with letting Guthrie work from there, as the right-hander surrendered a two-out single to Jose Abreu in the first, then didn't allow another hit until the fifth.

Chicago's offense finally struck in the eighth.

Wade Davis struck out Marcus Semien looking to open the inning and Adam Eaton ripped a triple to center. Ramirez proceeded to single him in the following at-bat, but Davis settled down to get Abreu and Conor Gillaspie on strikes to end the inning.

Greg Holland needed just 11 pitches in the ninth to convert his 46th save of the season and send Kansas City into the postseason.

Game Notes

Holland needs one more save to tie his career high set last season ... Cain has an eight-game hitting streak ... KC has taken seven of eight at U.S. Cellular Field.






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