NEU » .3 points. The club is limiting him to 24 minute

CHICAGO -- The Kansas City Royals hope to get well against the fourth-place Chicago White Sox this weekend, but only the return of Lorenzo Cain made them feel better Friday night.Carlos Rodon struck out a season-high nine over six innings, Adam Eaton doubled twice and scored two runs and the White Sox beat Kansas City 7-2 as the Royals failed to gain ground in the wild card race. They trail the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers by four games for the final spot.In his first appearance since Aug. 30, Cain reached base four times on a single, an error and two walks.That shows his value, manager Ned Yost said. He finds a way to produce through all that (down time).The 2014 ALCS Most Valuable Player had been sidelined because of a bruised left wrist.Trying to put the bat on the ball right now, said Cain, who still experienced discomfort when he squeezed the bat. Trying to do the best I can to get on base for the guys behind me and go from there.Rodon (7-8) fanned Paulo Orlando with the bases loaded on his 116th pitch to end the sixth inning and move to 5-0 in his last seven starts.Its huge, Rodon said of manager Robin Venturas show of faith. It helps me build my confidence as well. Im glad he trusts in me to get that last guy out. No matter how many pitches Im at, I always want to get that last out.Kendrys Morales had a two-run single in the first inning for Kansas City, which has dropped six of nine.Eaton doubled to lead off the first and fifth innings off Yordano Ventura (10-10) and scored each time on Melky Cabrera RBI. Tyler Saladino had three hits and drove in two runs in Chicagos third straight win over a playoff contender.The 23-year-old Rodon struggled early this season and went on the disabled list after he sprained his left wrist slipping on the dugout steps. But the lefty has been sharp since returning.In his career-high 24th start, Rodon allowed two runs -- one earned -- and six hits while lowering his ERA to 1.85 ERA in his past seven outings, all quality starts.Jose Abreu and Justin Morneau added RBI singles as Chicago had 13 hits.Ventura allowed five runs -- four earned -- and 10 hits over seven innings in taking his first loss in seven starts.One inning got away from me, Ventura said of the fifth. Overall, I felt good. ... I thought I made good pitches. They hit (the ball) where we werent.Dan Jennings got five outs and Tommy Kahnle worked the ninth for the White Sox, who have won five of seven despite slim playoff hopes.HOT SOXAbreu went 2 for 4 to improve to 22 for 50 (.440) with 16 RBI in his past 11 games. Saladino is 6 for 8 in the past two games.TIRED SORIAYost said hes been overusing struggling reliever Joakim Soria and planned to limit his appearances. Soria has six blown saves and eight losses.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals: C Salvador Perez (bruised right wrist) sat out a second straight game. He still feels it a little bit when he swings, Yost said. He feels fine when he throws, so were definitely making progress. Well shoot for tomorrow. ... LHP Matt Strahm left to attend his grandfathers funeral and was expected back Saturday.White Sox: Struggling RHP James Shields was cleared to start Saturday after complaining of a sore back in his last outing. Shields hasnt missed a start since 2007. I just want to post every five days and throw 200 innings, Shields said. Im obviously not going to get (200 innings) this year for the first time in nine seasons, which is disappointing.UP NEXTShields (5-17, 6.07 ERA) will face Royals RHP Edinson Volquez (10-10, 5.02) on Saturday night. Ultra Boost Discount . -- Josh Sterk scored once and set up two more as the Oshawa Generals edged the visiting Belleville Bulls 3-2 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Adidas Nmd Wholesale . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. http://www.stansmithdiscount.com/discount-nmd-shoes.html . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. Cheap Adidas Stan Smith . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. Cheap Ultra Boost Shoes . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. LeBron James is poised to pass another milestone when the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.James, who scored a season-high 30 points in a 128-122 victory over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night, needs two points to surpass Hakeem Olajuwons total of 26,946 and vault into 10th place on the NBAs all-time scoring list.Its always humbling when youre able to put yourself in any category with guys that laid the path for you and the rest of us, James told reporters after the Boston game.James led Cleveland to its first NBA championship last season and has the Cavaliers off to a 5-0 start, their best since they won their first eight games in 1976-77.He turns 32 on Dec. 30 and is in his 14th season but is playing as well as ever, averaging 22.4 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. He is not the Cavs leading scorer, however. Kyrie Irving is averaging 26 points, which if maintained would be a career high.Kevin Love is chipping in 22 points per game, his best clip in his three seasons with Cleveland, and is doing more damage in the paint than previously. According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, 44.9 percent of Loves shot attempts came from 3-point range last season. This year that average is down to 33.3.Because Love is working inside, he is getting to the foul line more often. He has nailed 37 of 41 free throws to date, including 12 of 13 against Boston. He averaged 4.1 free throws attempts last season.Love scored a season-high 26 points against Boston, and Irving finished with 23. Six Cavaliers cracked double figures in all.This is the best Ive seen the Cavs play in November, Boston coach Brad Stevens told Cleveland.ddddddddddddom. From what Ive seen ... theyre way ahead of where they were the last two years.The Sixers are 0-4, having lost 109-93 Wednesday in Charlotte while giving rookie center Joel Embiid a night off. Philadelphia lost its first 18 games last season and its first 17 the year before, and dropped 41 straight games in October/November, dating back to an overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 22, 2013.Embiid, who missed his first two seasons while recovering from a pair of foot surgeries, is averaging a team-best 17.3 points. The club is limiting him to 24 minutes a night as a precaution.Veteran forward Ersan Ilyasova, acquired Tuesday from Oklahoma City for Jerami Grant, scored 14 against the Hornets. Sergio Rodriguez is also averaging 12 points and 7.5 assists while filling in at point guard for Jerryd Bayless, who is out with a wrist injury.The only other Sixer scoring in double figures is rookie forward Dario Saric (11.3). Forward Robert Covington (12.9 the past two seasons) is down to four per game on 19.2-percent shooting.You just keep shooting, Covington told the Philadelphia Inquirer. Thats what you do. ... Do I get discouraged about it? No. I just continue to play, and when the time comes the shots are going to fall.Philadelphia is also without Nerlens Noel, who recently had knee surgery, and No. 1 overall draft pick Ben Simmons, who is out until at least January following foot surgery. ' ' '