Tim Anderson hit a two-run homer in the 12th inning, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 4-2 on Wednesday night.

 

Anderson's blast off Burch Smith (1-5), the sixth Royals pitcher, landed just beyond the fence in left-center.

 

Juan Minaya (2-2) pitched two scoreless innings for the win. Hector Santiago, the eighth Chicago pitcher, picked up his second save in as many chances.

 

Jose Rondon also homered for the White Sox, who snapped a seven-game skid, one game short of their season-worst losing streak.

 

Adalberto Mondesi tied a career high with four hits and drove in both of Kansas City's runs.

 

Both teams wasted plenty of scoring chances, the last of which belonged to the Royals in the bottom of the 11th. With one out and runners on second and third, Rosell Herrera lined to short, with pinch-runner Brett Phillips getting doubled off third.

 

Royals starter Eric Skogland pitched five innings, allowing two runs on two hits, with two walks and two strikeouts. He made his first start since May 25 after a long stint on the disabled list with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament. He returned Sept. 4 and had pitched two scoreless innings in relief.

 

Whit Merrifield stole two bases to bring his season total to 35, a new career high. He led the AL with 34 swipes last season and tops the league again this year.

 

After Merrifield stole second in the third inning, Mondesi drove him in with a single for the game's first run. Mondesi stole his 22nd base, his 17th since the All-Star break.

 

The White Sox answered with two runs in the fourth on Rondon's homer to left, scoring Avisail Garcia, who reached on a two-out walk.

 

The Royals tied it in the fifth but had a chance for a bigger inning. Ryan O'Hearn reached on a one-out walk, and Merrifield followed with a double to the wall in left center. But O'Hearn went too far around third and was picked off. Merrifield then stole third and scored on Mondesi's second RBI single.

 

The White Sox had runners on second and third with one out in the seventh and then loaded the bases with two outs. But Glenn Sparkman induced a fielders choice grounder from Tim Anderson to end the inning.

 

The Royals loaded the bases in the seventh as well but did not score.