Royals 6, White Sox 3: Lorenzo Cain collected four hits and scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as visiting Kansas City inched closer to securing a postseason berth for the first time since 1985.

Eric Hosmer homered among his three hits and joined Alcides Escobar, Alex Gordon and Cain with an RBI single for the Royals, who trail American League Central-leading Detroit by two games while moving past Oakland for the top wild card spot - three ahead of Seattle. Kelvin Herrera (4-3) relieved James Shields and stranded a pair of runners in the seventh before Greg Holland retired the side in the ninth for his 45th save.

With the score tied 3-3, Cain ripped a one-out single off Jose Quintana (9-11) in the eighth and advanced to third on Hosmer's third base hit. Jake Petricka relieved Quintana and saw Billy Butler bounce into what could have been a potential inning-ending double play, but second baseman Marcus Semien bounced the throw to first to allow Cain to score.

Josh Phegley belted a two-run homer and Jordan Danks had an RBI single and scored a run for the White Sox, who have dropped nine of the last 11 meetings with their AL Central rival. Quintana suffered the loss after yielding five runs on 11 hits in 7 1/3 innings.

After Hosmer's RBI single to center in the first inning opened the scoring, Phegley gave Chicago a 2-1 lead by depositing a 1-0 fastball from Shields over the wall in left field for his first homer. Danks and Escobar traded RBI singles before Hosmer sent an 0-1 curveball from Quintana over the wall in right field for his ninth homer - and first since Sept. 14.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Hosmer went 3-for-5 to improve to 13-for-29 in the last seven games. ... Chicago's Paul Konerko began the final homestand of his career by taking out the lineup card. The team honored the retiring veteran with a video montage. ... White Sox RF Avisail Garcia exited the contest to open the third inning because of a stiff lower back and was replaced by Moises Sierra.