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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Chris Sale knew he had to pitch his best Sunday with James Shields starting for the Kansas City Royals. "Indubitably, yes," Sale said. "You know what youre getting with a starter like James. You have to bear down and do it." Sale gave up four singles in eight scoreless innings as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Royals 5-1 in a pitching duel between top starters. Alexei Ramirez and Tyler Flowers each drove in a pair of runs as the White Sox won the series finale after dropping the first two games. Sale (2-0) struck out six and walked one. In his previous four starts against the Royals, the White Sox had backed him with one run, enough to beat James Shields 1-0 in the 2012 opener. "There was an energy to Chris coming off the mound," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "Big pitchers do that when you face up against a guy like Shields. He knows weve lost three in a row and hes going up against Shields and he wanted to go out and shut them down." Shields (0-1) took the loss in this one, too, giving up a run on five hits, striking out six, walking none and hitting two batters in seven innings. "What we saw out there today was two No. 1 starters that were at the top of their game," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Both of them had their A-game on the mound. Thats as good of stuff as Ive seen James Shields have. He had everything working, his fastball at 94-95, a great cutter, a great change, a great curveball. "Sale was right there with him. He has everything going. Both starters just pitched a great game, both of them." Ramirezs drove in the games first run in the seventh when Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar knocked down his grounder but had no play for Conor Gillaspie at home. Sale allowed a runner past second only in the third inning, when Lorenzo Cain and Omar Infante singled and Ramirez committed a throwing error. Sale wiggled out of trouble by retiring Danny Valencia on a pop up. Cain had two of the hits off Sale. The White Sox scored four runs in the ninth off Royals left-handed relievers Tim Collins and Francisley Bueno. The inning included a Flowers two-run single and an RBI double by Ramirez. Alex Gordon singled home Eric Hosmer in the ninth off Matt Lindstrom for the only Kansas City run. The Royals won their first replay challenge of the season when Marcus Semien was ruled safe at first, but it was overturned on a review that took 68 seconds. White Sox manager Robin Ventura challenged that Hosmer was out at first to complete a double play in the sixth, but replays indicated he was safe. Plate umpire Greg Gibson issued a warning to both benches in the sixth when Infante had to jump out of the way of Sales pitch way inside after Shields had hit two batters, including Jose Abreu in the top of the inning. "Im not trying to hit Abreu right there, theres no doubt it," Shields said. "Weve got a zero-zero ball game. Im not trying to put a runner on base. There was definitely no intent. I understand they are trying to protect their players over there, but in that situation Im not trying to hit him. I dont think theres any reason for any retaliation at all." Notes: White Sox 2B Gordon Beckham, who is on the disabled list with a left oblique strain, has been shut down after one game from a minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Birmingham, still feeling tenderness when he swings. . The White Sox starting lineup Saturday included four Cuban-born players: C Adrian Nieto, RF Dayan Viciedo, SS Alexei Ramirez and Abreu. The last team to start four Cubans were the Indians on April 8, 1969 -- SS Zolio Versalles, RHP Luis Tiant, CF Jose Cardenal and C Joe Azcue. .The Royals will start LHP Jason Vargas against Tampa Bay on Monday, while the Rays probable is LHP Matt Moore. .The White Sox will start RHP Felipe Paulino for the series opener at Colorado. RHP Jordan Lyles will be the Rockies starter. Whoelsale China Colts Jerseys . -- The Tampa Bay Lightning are disappointed, though not discouraged. Authentic Erik Swoope Jersey . - This win was more the New Jersey Devils style. http://www.cheapcoltsjerseysauthentic.co...y-unitas-jersey. To get things started, heres a little photo tour to get you acquainted with all the main characters. Authentic Kemoko Turay Jersey . "I had a pretty good year," the soft-spoken Granberg told TSN.ca with a grin from the teams annual rookie tournament in London. A fourth-round selection in 2010, Granberg is worth keeping an eye on with NHL training camps rolling around in less than a week. The six-foot-two, 200-pound defender may not possess the wow-inspiring theatrics of fellow prospect Morgan Rielly, but nonetheless has a chance to contribute with the Leafs when all is said and done this season. Authentic Margus Hunt Jersey . Now he can be had by any team willing to pay his salary. According to a report from ESPN, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are shopping the veteran CB and plan on releasing him Wednesday if they cant find a trade partner.BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Toronto Blue Jays spring training game at the Pittsburgh Pirates was rained out Thursday. The game will not be made up. STARTING TIME The Blue Jays returned to their camp in Dunedin without announcing revised pitching plans. Left-hander Mark Buerhle was scheduled to start Thursday on six days rest and it is not likely manager John Gibbons will want him to wait past Friday for his next outing. Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole, slated to start against Toronto, will pitch against Minnesota in a "B" game Friday morning. Cole allowed two runs in two innings against the Blue Jays in his initial outing on Feb. 28. TRAINERS ROOM Pirates left-hander Jeff Locke does not expect to miss much time due to tightness in his right oblique. Locke felt what he said felt like "a continuous little pull" during his last bullpen session and was scratched from his scheduled start Wednesday. "Its very minor. Well take a few days and re-evaluate," Locke said. "Its funny. I was just out there throwing normally. It could be I was coming out of my turn quick. It could be I didnt stretch enough." Locke was an All-Star last year but didnt pitch due to a back injury. He struggled in the second half -- at one poinnt he was sent to Double-A -- and finished 10-7 with a 3.dddddddddddd52 ERA. He is battling Edinson Volquez for the No. 5 spot in the rotation. "From what Ive heard from the training staff, its something that if we dont take care of it now, it could be six to eight weeks later," Locke said. "Thats something I cant afford." FINDING RHYTHM Pedro Alvarez has started five of Pittsburghs first eight games and is tied with Gregory Polanco for the team lead with 15-bats. "Theres a reason for it," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Were trying to bundle at-bats differently for all these guys and give them an opportunity to find some rhythm. The only guys who havent played back-to-back games are (Andrew) McCutchen and (Russell) Martin, and thats by design too." In spring traininng last year, Alvarez hit .241 with two homers in 54 at-bats. In 2012, he hit .170 with two homers in 53 at-bats. "Pedros spring trainings have been challenging," Hurdle said. "Obviously, the season can turn out different, but nobody likes to have to battle for an extended period. If we can give him some help along the way, like by giving him (lots) of at-bats in a short period of time, thats what well do." ' ' '