CHICAGO (AP) - Alex Gordon knew exactly what was going to happen when he hustled over to make a play on Micah Johnson's foul liner. And he went all out for it anyway.
Gordon made a spectacular leaping grab on Johnson's ball in the sixth inning of Kansas City's 5-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, going into the stands to bring it in before he landed in a group of fans.
"When I was going over I knew when I jumped I was going to jump in the stands," Gordon said. "I kind of had an idea of where the fence was and how low it was. I just said I gotta make the catch here and that was it."
Gordon also made a fine running catch on Avisail Garcia's liner to left in the fourth, and then threw to second to double off Melky Cabrera for the final out. He went 2 for 4 at the plate, including a two-run drive for his second homer, but it was the defense of the four-time Gold Glove winner that attracted the most attention on a difficult day for the Royals.
"That's the type of player Alex is," manager Ned Yost said. "The ball in the stands was flashy. It was a great play, but the double-play ball when he ran to the line and turned all in one motion and threw a bullet back to second base, that was a huge play, too."
The rest of the day belonged to the White Sox, who got their first two wins of the year against Kansas City. Avisail Garcia's two-out RBI single sent Chicago to a 3-2 victory in the resumption of a game suspended by rain on Friday night, then an error on Kansas City third baseman Mike Moustakas helped the White Sox rally for the win in the regularly scheduled matchup.
John Danks (1-2) pitched six innings of three-run ball while improving to 8-1 in 18 career starts against Kansas City. David Robertson (2-0) got three outs for his third save in three opportunities after he tossed a scoreless inning for the win in the suspended game.
"(Robertson) starting off the day like he did and then finishing it off, it was nice," manager Robin Ventura said. "Good day when you get two wins in one day."
Kansas City right-hander Edinson Volquez (2-2) was charged with one earned run and five hits in 5 2-3 innings. The right-hander pitched at least seven innings and allowed three runs or less in each of his first three starts.
The White Sox had just one hit and trailed 3-0 before they pushed across five runs in the sixth. Moustakas' costly error on Jose Abreu's grounder allowed Adam Eaton to score, and Conor Gillaspie put Chicago in front with a two-run single.
"It's a play I need to make. Ninety-nine out of 100 times I make that play," Moustakas said. "The one time I don't make it they score five."
Cabrera sparked the winning rally in the suspended game with a two-out walk against Kelvin Herrera (0-1). He advanced to second on a wild pitch, and Abreu was walked intentionally before Garcia dumped a single into left for his first career game-ending hit.
BACK IN ACTION
Chicago and Kansas City returned to the field for the first time since Major League Baseball handed down seven suspensions for Thursday night's brawl in the series opener. The resumption of the suspended game and Saturday's regularly scheduled matchup also were rained out.
"I think we got all our emotions out that night and I think it's over and done with," Kansas City outfielder Lorenzo Cain said.
CABRERA'S CATCH
Cabrera jumped against the fence in left to rob Eric Hosmer of extra bases for the final out of the eighth, earning a round of applause from Zach Duke as the reliever walked to the dugout.
"That saved the game for them," Yost said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: Asked if closer Greg Holland (strained right pectoral muscle) had been examined again, Yost responded: "Unless he played catch in the hotel lobby yesterday, I don't think he was re-evaluated."
White Sox: Albers said he tried to played catch, but there was "quite a bit of pain" when he threw the ball.
UP NEXT
Royals: LHP Jason Vargas (1-1, 6.75 ERA) faces Indians ace Corey Kluber (0-2, 3.90 ERA) on Monday night in the opener of a three-game set at Cleveland.
White Sox: RHP Hector Noesi (0-2, 5.23 ERA) gets the ball when the White Sox open a three-game series at Baltimore on Monday night. Ubaldo Jimenez (1-1, 2.30 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for the Orioles.
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