White Sox 5, Royals 1: Chris Sale threw eight shutout innings while outdueling James Shields as Chicago defeated host Kansas City to salvage the finale of the three-game series.

Alexei Ramirez had two RBIs and the White Sox broke the game open with four runs in the ninth to halt a three-game losing streak. Sale (2-0) gave up four hits and one walk while striking out six in a 111-pitch effort before Matt Lindstrom allowed a run-scoring single to Alex Gordon in the ninth.

Shields (0-1) matched Sale through six scoreless innings before becoming a hard-luck loser. He allowed one run and five runs in seven innings, striking out six without a walk in a 102-pitch effort.

Conor Gillaspie hit a one-out double to right to start the White Sox seventh. He moved to third on an infield out and scored when Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar was unable to glove Ramirez’s hard-hit grounder to his left.

Chicago’s first run in the ninth came when pinch runner Leury Garcia stole third and came around to score when Royals catcher Salvador Perez made a wild throw into left field. Ramirez added an RBI double down the left-field line to make it 3-0 and Tyler Flowers smacked a two-run single up the middle.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Sale’s only major-league shutout was a one-hitter against the Los Angeles Angels on May 12, 2013. … Royals 3B Mike Moustakas was given the day off after opening the season with 15 straight hitless at-bats. … Home-plate umpire Greg Gibson warmed both benches in the bottom of the sixth inning when Sale threw way inside to Royals 2B Omar Infante after Shields plunked White Sox 1B Jose Abreu in the top of the inning.