Orlando Cabrera scored Alexei Ramirez on a perfectly executed hit-and-run double in the 13th inning, and the Chicago White Sox held on for an 8-7 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.

Nick Masset (1-0) coaxed a game-ending double play from Mark Grudzielanek with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 13th.

With one out in the 13th, Ramirez reached on an infield single, his career-high fourth hit, and scored easily as Cabrera sliced a double into right-center off Robinson Tejada (0-1), the sixth Royals pitcher.

Masset went two innings and was the sixth pitcher the White Sox used in the 4-hour, 20-minute game.

The Royals tied it 7-all in the bottom of the 11th after the White Sox had taken a 7-5 lead in the top of the frame on A.J. Pierzynski's rare two-run sacrifice fly to deep center.

Mike Aviles had an RBI single and Alex Gordon brought him in with a double off Scott Linebrink, who started the 11th.

With one out and the bases loaded in a 5-all tie, Pierzynski hit Horacio Ramirez's 0-2 pitch deep into right-center. Joey Gathright fell down after making the catch near the wall and Joe Crede scored from third and Alexei Ramirez rushed home from second, sliding in well ahead of the throw.

Both runs were unearned off Ramirez.

Crede drove in two runs and Jim Thome was 4-for-5 with two doubles and three runs scored. It was the 11th time he's had four hits, equaling a career high. Continued...