Royals 7, White Sox 6: Alex Gordon drew a bases-loaded walk and Alexei Ramirez’s critical fielding error with two outs in the eighth capped a three-run rally as host Kansas City avoided a three-game sweep.

The Royals loaded the bases with none out on a pair of singles and an error when Jesse Crain (2-2) could not field Elliot Johnson’s sacrifice bunt. Crain struck out the next two batters, but Gordon ended his 29 2/3-inning scoreless streak with a walk and Alcides Escobar’s grounder handcuffed Ramirez at short, allowing the tying and winning runs to score.

Luke Hochevar (1-1) gave up a hit and struck out a pair in the eighth to get the decision while Greg Holland fanned two during a perfect ninth for his 16th save. George Kottaras and Jarrod Dyson hit the Royals’ first back-to-back homers of the season to begin the fifth.

The White Sox staked Dylan Axelrod to a 4-0 lead on the strength of Adam Dunn’s two-run single in the first and his two-run shot in the third. Gordon got the Royals on the board with an RBI single in the bottom half and Axelrod was pulled after giving up three runs in the fifth, including Kottaras' and Dyson’s blasts.

The game remained tied at 4 until the seventh, when Gordon Beckham's line-drive, two-run double over the head of Dyson in straightway center broke the deadlock, but Chicago was unable to hold on and record its first road sweep since Sept. 14-16, 2012.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Dunn’s home run – his 20th – gave him 426 for his career, tying him with Billy Williams for 46th on the all-time list. He is three behind teammate Paul Konerko, who is in sole possession of 44th place. … Kansas City starter James Shields allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks over five innings. The outing ended his 29-game streak of lasting at least six frames. … The Royals’ offensive output on Sunday was two runs fewer than they had scored over the course of their four-game losing streak.