For the second game in a row the Royals jumped on top of the division rival Chicago White Sox, but let the visitors climb back into it and make hay against the bullpen.
But similarly to the season opener, the Royals held on for the win and clinched the season-opening three-game series. Ian Kennedy earned his first career save as the Royals registered an 8-6 win in front of an announced 13,533 Saturday at Kauffman Stadium.
Kennedy, who made the transition from starter to reliever this spring, allowed two hits in the ninth before retiring the next three batters.