CHICAGO -- Even after he slipped, Avisail Garcia realized that if he made the throw he needed, he still had a chance.

After he recovered, the Chicago White Sox right fielder made a pinpoint throw home, which started a dramatic game-ending double play that helped lift the White Sox to a 7-6 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.

Matt Davidson homered and drove in three runs and Yoan Moncada delivered a go-ahead two-run homer to spark the White Sox.

But it was Garcia's throw that made all of the offense stand up in the end.

"I didn't think about it -- just stand up and throw," Garcia said. "You've just got to do it -- you don't have to think about it. Just stand up and throw."

Garcia threw Whit Merrifield out at the plate on a Lorenzo Cain single. After catcher Omar Narvaez tagged out Merrifield at the plate, Narvaez threw to Yoan Moncada at first, who relayed to shortstop Tim Anderson, who tagged out Cain while he attempted to reach second on the play.

Royals manager Ned Yost challenged the call, but the double play was confirmed by video replay.

Yost said when he saw Garcia slip in right that he figured the score was tied.

"All of a sudden, I look up and here comes a strong throw to the plate," Yost said. "I wasn't sure if (Narvaez) tagged him and then ... there was a lot of stuff happening there."

Juan Minaya earned his sixth save as the Royals fell 4 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins for the second American League wild-card spot.

Reynaldo Lopez (3-3) earned the win for the White Sox, who wiped out a four-run deficit with a five-run fifth inning. Lopez scattered 10 hits, but only allowed two earned runs over 6 1/3 innings after the White Sox defense committed a pair of errors in Kansas City's six-run third inning.

The Royals threatened to tie the game in the sixth inning when Alex Gordon doubled with two outs. But when Merrifield singled to right field, Garcia threw out Gordon at the plate to preserve Chicago's lead.

The White Sox took a 7-6 lead in the fourth inning when they scored five runs.

Matt Davidson drilled a two-run homer after Anderson delivered an RBI single to drive in Narvaez, who led off with a double. After Royals starter Jason Hammel (8-13) struck out Adam Engel, Yolmer Sanchez singled before Moncada provided the White Sox with a one-run lead with a two-run blast.

Moncada's homer chased Hammel, who allowed seven runs and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings. Hammel struck out four and didn't allow a walk.

Even after Chicago rallied, Yost figured the Royals had a chance, only to be shut down by Garcia.

"The two runs we needed to win the ball game were both thrown out at the plate by Garcia," Yost said. "So need you have to kind of tip your cap to him -- he made two nice throws that were both on the money."

The Royals took a 6-2 lead when they scored six runs in the third inning. Eric Hosmer's two-run single came after Alcides Escobar led off the inning with a solo home run. Melky Cabrera delivered a game-tying single after the Royals loaded the bases on two Chicago errors and a Merrifield single.

Mike Moustakas extended the Kansas City lead to 5-2 when he grounded into a double play before Hosmer scored on a Lopez wild pitch.

Even all of the miscues, Lopez settled in.

"I think you need to know in baseball those mistakes are going to happen and when those mistakes happen you have to keep your focus on what you are doing and executing your pitches, because you know your teammates are also trying to do your best," Lopez said. "That was the key for me."

NOTES: Royals manager Ned Yost told The Kansas City Star on Friday that he believes he will return to manage the Royals in 2018. Yost told the Star he can't imagine a scenario that would prevent his return. ... The wife of RHP Ian Kennedy welcomed the couple's fifth child Friday morning. Kennedy is scheduled to pitch in Sunday's series finale. If he doesn't return, RHP Sam Gavigilio will start with Kennedy pitching Monday. ... White Sox manager Rick Renteria said it's too soon to determine if RHP Carson Fulmer will make his next start after he left Thursday's game after facing only four batters with a blister. ... White Sox C Geovany Soto said he was able to speak with family members in Puerto Rico and said they are fine despite the widespread devastation from Hurricane Maria.