Royals 7, White Sox 5: Alex Gordon slammed a three-run double and Lorenzo Cain contributed two hits and two RBIs as host Kansas City defeated Chicago in the opener of a three-game set.

Norichika Aoki and Omar Infante had three hits apiece as the Royals recorded their first victory of the season. Jeremy Guthrie (1-0) allowed four runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings and Greg Holland worked the ninth for his first save.

Tyler Flowers went 3-for-4 for Chicago and has seven hits over the last two games. The loss was the second straight for the White Sox after opening with back-to-back victories.

Gordon’s bases-loaded two-bagger into the right-center gap in the first inning gave Kansas City a 3-1 lead and Infante blooped a run-scoring single into center field in the second. Conor Gillaspie’s fifth-inning sacrifice fly pulled Chicago within two before a wild pitch by White Sox starter Erik Johnson (0-1) and Cain’s two-run single accounted for three runs in the bottom of the inning as the Royals took a 7-2 lead.

Adam Eaton singled in two runs in the sixth for the White Sox and Avisail Garcia’s infield out in the seventh pulled Chicago within 7-5. Royals reliever Wade Davis struck out two in the eighth before Holland struck out the final two batters while retiring the side in order in the ninth.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Johnson was charged with seven runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. … Aoki was hitless in nine at-bats against Detroit before breaking out against the White Sox. … Chicago placed RHP Nate Jones (hip strain) on the 15-day disabled list and recalled RHP Jake Petricka, who pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief Friday.