KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Center fielder Lorenzo Cain, who reached base four times, hit a two-run homer in the eighth as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Chicago White Sox 7-5 Wednesday night.

Cain hit the first pitch from Zack Putnam out to deep left with Alcides Escobar aboard. Cain and Escobar went a combined 6-for-9 with three runs and two RBIs.

Wade Davis picked up the victory, striking out two and allowing one hit in the eighth inning. Greg Holland pitched a flawless ninth for his first save.

Neither starting left-hander was sharp. Jose Quintana, who has an 0-6 record in 13 career starts against the Royals, left after five innings and 102 pitches, allowing five runs on nine hits, a walk and two hit-batters.

Danny Duffy went five innings plus two batters and was charged with five runs on eight hits while walking none and striking out five. After Duffy gave up a double to first baseman Jose Abreu and a single to Avisail Garcia in the sixth, right-hander Jason Frasor replaced him. Abreu scored on shortstop Alexei Ramirez’s sacrifice fly to tie the score at 5.

Third baseman Mike Moustakas doubled with one out in the first inning and scored on designated hitter Kendrys Morales' two-out single to left. It was Moustakas' 100th career double.

Duffy, who threw nine strikes in 10 pitches while retiring the White Sox 1-2-3 in the first, surrendered a three-run homer to catcher Tyler Flowers in the second inning. After Duffy retired the first two batters, designated hitter Adam LaRoche doubled and third baseman Gordon Beckman reached on an infield single before Flowers lofted a 1-0 pitch over the left-field fence.

The Royals regained the lead in the third when first baseman Eric Hosmer stroked a three-run homer. Quintana hit Moustakas with a pitch and served up a single to center fielder Lorenzo Cain before Hosmer drove a 1-1 offering out to right-center field.

The White Sox tied it at 4 in the fourth when Beckham's two-out single scored right fielder Garcia, who led off the inning with a double.

In the fifth, the Royals forged ahead 5-4 when catcher Salvador Perez singled home Hosmer.

NOTES: LHP Chris Sale joined the White Sox on Wednesday after throwing in a minor league exhibition game Monday in Arizona. Sale, who broke his right foot in February, said he is ready to start Sunday against the Minnesota Twins. ... Royals 3B Mike Moustakas homered to left field in the Monday opener, his first opposite-field home run in the majors. ... Royals manager Ned Yost said he would likely start rookie Paulo Orlando in left field in the Thursday day game after a night game in place of Alex Gordon, who is still rebounding after undergoing right wrist surgery in late December. ... White Sox manager Robin Ventura said C Geovany Soto would start Thursday in place of Tyler Flowers. ... Chicago LHP John Danks, who gave up eight earned runs in 10 1/3 innings during spring training, will start Thursday. RHP Edinson Volquez will make his Royals debut in the series finale.