CHICAGO -- It took a hard slide for the Kansas City Royals to end their skid. Mike Moustakas scored the tie-breaking run when he jarred the ball out of the catchers glove in the ninth inning and the Royals beat the White Sox 2-1 Wednesday to take the three-game series. Kansas City was victorious for the 12th time in their last 14 starts at U.S. Cellular Field. They also won consecutive games for the first time since July 2-4. They are 5-10 since then. "I feel a lot better leaving Chicago than I did after the first game in Chicago," manager Ned Yost said. "After the problems you run into, you cant lose faith. You cant start panicking. You cant think the ship is sinking. Youve got to stay positive, because these guys have the ability to fight through it and get themselves out of it." Moustakas triggered the decisive rally with a lead-off single off Zach Putnam (3-2), the last of four White Sox pitchers. Alcides Escobar bunted him over before Nori Aoki hit a flare to centre field. Adam Eatons strong throw beat Moustakas to the plate, but catcher Tyler Flowers lost control of the ball upon contact. Flowers was charged with an error on the play. "With the (new) rules, you kind of have to obey them," said Moustakas, who was at a four-inch, 30-pound disadvantage in the matchup. "You dont really think about trying to truck anybody. Thats a big boy behind home plate there. Its probably not a good idea to go that route." Flowers said he thought he had the ball. "The replay looked like his knee on impact was literally straight into the webbing of the glove," Flowers said. "I wish I could have hung onto it, but theres nothing I could do different." Yost liked the jump off second base as much as the slide itself. "(Moustakas) got a tremendous read on Noris base hit," Yost said. "If he doesnt get the read that he had, he doesnt have the opportunity to score." Wade Davis (6-2) pitched one scoreless inning and Greg Holland retired the side in order in the ninth inning for his 26th save in 27 tries. After the teams traded runs in the first inning, starters James Shields and Jose Quintana matched each other for six scoreless innings. Neither was overwhelming, but both were able to get key outs when necessary. "(Shields) has the ability to make big pitches in crucial situations," Yost said. "Thats why hes our ace." Shields allowed six hits in seven innings He walked one batter and struck out seven. "I just try to go out there every five days and pitch my game no matter where Im at," Shields said. In seven innings, Quintana gave up seven hits and two walks and struck out three batters. He remained winless (0-5) against the Royals in 11 career starts. The no decision was the 36th for Quintana since the 2012 season, the most in the majors. Chicagos Adam Dunn singled to tie the score at 1-1 in the first inning. The hit scored Jose Abreu, who had doubled with two outs. Abreu (sore back) was back in action after a one-game layoff. Eric Hosmers sacrifice fly gave the Royals a 1-0 lead. NOTES: No sooner did Hosmer return to the line-up after a two-game absence than he aggravated his bruised hand on a checked swing and left the game. His status was listed as day to day. ... Davis has not allowed an extra-base hit in 42-2 innings this season. .... Four hitless at-bats left White Sox 2B Gordon Beckham with a .132 batting average since June 9, when he was at his high point (.298) of the season. ... White Sox OF Dayan Viciedo was a late scratch because of tightness in his left hamstring. Moises Sierra replaced him in right field. ... White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper (vertigo) did not accompany the team to Minneapolis for the start of a seven-game road trip. Bullpen coach Bobby Thigpen assumed his duties for the third consecutive game.... White Sox OF Avasail Garcia (shoulder surgery) will accelerate his workout routine on the road trip. No timetable has been set for a rehab assignment. .... In his professional debut, White Sox first-round draft pick Carlos Rendon allowed one run in one inning of relief in the Arizona Rookie League on Tuesday. . . . Wednesday marked the five-year anniversary of Mark Buehrles perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays at U.S. Cellular Field. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Blue Jays Jersey . -- Felix Girard scored on the power play in the third period to lift the Baie-Comeau Drakkar past the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4-3 in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action Friday. Danny Jansen Blue Jays Jersey . Dragic was a game-time decision because of a sore right ankle that had kept him out of Wednesdays loss at Utah, but played all but the last 10 seconds of the second half in the first 40-point game for a Phoenix player since Amare Stoudemires 44 on March 19, 2010. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/306h-dave-...-blue-jays.html. She still remembers the massive roar of the home crowd when the Canadians walked out on the pitch before 47,784 fans at Commonwealth Stadium in 2002. Lang expects a similar reception for the Canadian team as the host nation at this years tournament, which begins Tuesday. Derek Law Blue Jays Jersey . - Anthony Beauvillier had the winning goal in the third period as the Shawinigan Cataractes edged the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 2-1 on Wednesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play. Damaso Garcia Jersey . The Philadelphia left fielder clubbed a tiebreaking, solo home run in the seventh inning, and the Phillies edged the Red Sox, 2-1, in the middle test of a three-game interleague series at Citizens Bank Park.DETROIT -- Tigers ace Justin Verlander underwent muscle repair surgery Thursday after injuring himself last month during off-season conditioning. Dr. Bill Meyers in Philadelphia performed the operation on Verlander, who is expected to need six weeks of rehab before being evaluated again. The first workout for Detroits pitchers and catchers at spring training is scheduled for Feb. 14. The first spring training game is Feb. 25 against Florida Southern. "We fully anticipate Justin to participate in spring training and be in a position to compete at the beginning of the 2014 season," general manager Dave Dombrowski said in a statement. The team did not identify the "core muscle" that was repaired, but called the surgery successful. Verlander turns 31 on Feb. 20. The Tigers said Verlander hurt himself at the end of December. There was also a message posted on Verlanders Twitter account: "Thanks for the support regarding my surgery today," it said. "It went well and now my only focus is to get ready for 2014! .deetermined" Verlander went 13-12 last year with a 3.dddddddddddd46 ERA for the AL Central champions. He has been Detoits opening day starter for the last six seasons, the longest active streak by any player with one team, according to STATS. If Verlander isnt at full strength for Detroits regular-season opener against Kansas City on March 31, the Tigers do have Max Scherzer, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner. One of Verlanders biggest assets is his durability. The right-hander has thrown at least 200 innings in seven consecutive seasons. Verlanders surgery was performed by the same doctor who operated on Detroit teammate Miguel Cabrera after the slugger was limited down the stretch last season by a tear in his groin. Two years ago, the Tigers lost designated hitter Victor Martinez for the entire 2012 season after an off-season injury. Martinez hurt his knee. Verlanders injury does not appear to be nearly as serious, but the Tigers now enter the 2014 season with two of their biggest stars coming off surgery. ' ' '