Jose Abreu didn't take long to continue his hitting streak.
The Chicago White Sox designated hitter hit a two-run homer in the first inning, extending his streak to 19 games, in a 5-3 victory against the Royals on Saturday at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
Yasmani Grandal also had a two-run homer for the Sox (25-15), who remained atop the American League Central standings.
Lucas Giolito allowed three runs on five hits with nine strikeouts and no walks in six-plus innings to improve to 4-2. He surrendered a single and double in the seventh before exiting.
Abreu's two-run homer off Kris Bubic gave him 40 RBIs in 40 games. It's the eighth-highest RBI total through 40 games for a Sox player since at least 1920, and most since Jim Thome had 41 through 40 games in 2006.
Sox shortstop Tim Anderson had two hits, two runs and a walk. He drove in a run with an infield hit in the fifth. Grandal followed with his fifth homer of the season, giving the Sox a 5-1 lead.
Luis Robert made a tremendous diving catch on a liner to center by Maikel Franco for the first out in the ninth. Alex Colome retired the side in the ninth for his ninth save.
The Sox improved to 13-0 against left-handed starters this season and 8-1 in the season series.
