CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago White Sox keep hoping something will break, that their offense will finally perk up and give their pitching the support it needs.
It did not happen against Kansas City in the first game back after the All-Star break.
Alex Rios and Mike Moustakas homered, and the Royals beat the White Sox 4-2 Friday in Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader.
"You just have to be able to get through it," Chicago manager Robin Ventura said. "As soon as it breaks, you'll have it go your way. But right now, we need something to fall our way with guys in scoring position."
The White Sox - last in the majors in runs coming in - got solo homers from Geovany Soto and Adam Eaton but little else on a scorching afternoon when the ball was carrying.
Moustakas hit a solo homer in the fifth on the 12th pitch of the at-bat to give the Royals a 2-1 lead. Rios capped a two-run sixth with his drive off Jeff Samardzija (6-5) after Chicago tied it and Kansas City won for the eighth time in nine games.
All-Star Lorenzo Cain had two hits, including an RBI double for the Royals. He is 21 for 42 in his past 11 games.
Chris Young (8-5) gave up two runs and three hits, including those drives by Soto and Eaton, in five innings.
Young felt his back tightening with each inning and left the game after throwing 82 pitches.
Yost said it's "not serious at all." And Young expects to make his next scheduled start.
"I'm not worried about it," Young said. "It'll be fine. But we're creatures of habit. And a little bit of time off (for the All-Star break), even though I tried to do my best staying in my routine, those things happen."
Four relievers combined to shut down the White Sox the rest of the way. Closer Greg Holland gave up a pinch-hit single to Emilio Bonifacio with one out in the ninth before J.B. Shuck forced the runner and Tyler Saladino grounded out to end the game. Holland picked up his 20th save in 22 chances.
Samardzija gave up four runs and seven hits in seven innings. And the White Sox dropped their second straight after winning nine of 11.
"I just took my time out there," Samardzija said. "I didn't realize it was that hot out there until second and third inning. You just kind of tell yourself to slow down. It just makes every pitch that more important. You don't want to stand out there for 20-30 pitches and start sweating."
Chicago had just tied it at 2 on Eaton's homer in the fifth when the Royals scored two in the sixth.
Eric Hosmer led off with a double and scored from third on Omar Infante's double-play grounder. Rios, who missed about six weeks in April and May with a broken left hand, then made it 4-2 with his second homer of the season - and first since opening day against the White Sox.
Reliever Ryan Madson escaped a second-and-third jam in the bottom half when he retired Alexei Ramirez and Soto on back-to-back grounders.
BY THE NUMBERS
Cain is batting .345 (30 for 87) in day games for Kansas City. ... Hosmer is 13 for 40 over his past 10 games. ... White Sox starters have a 2.36 ERA in their past 13 games.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: RHP Kris Medlen (elbow) rejoined the team and the team will decide in the next two or three days whether to activate him. He is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery and has not pitched in the majors since 2013, when he won 15 games for Atlanta.
White Sox: GM Rick Hahn said RHP Matt Albers (fractured right pinky finger) and RHP Nate Jones, recovering from Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow, are progressing in their rehabilitation. RHP Jesse Crain (shoulder), who has not pitched in the majors since 2013, had a setback in an Arizona League game last week and it's not clear when his next outing will be.
UP NEXT
RHP Edinson Volquez (8-4, 3.31 ERA) starts the second game for Kansas City, with LHP John Danks (4-8, 5.30) pitching for Chicago.