KANSAS CITY-- A quick look at the Chicago White Sox's 3-0 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

How it happened: The White Sox, riding the wave of a five-game winning streak, had their ace Chris Sale on the mound Wednesday evening. Sale, a 17-game winner, was hoping to become the team’s first 18-game winner since Jon Garland won that many in 2006. The Royals scored in the third inning as Sox slayer Billy Butler drove in his 98th run of the season with a sacrifice fly. Leadoff man Jason Bourgeous scored after Kansas City had loaded the bases with one out. Sale continued to raise his pitch count working out of trouble in the early innings with 73 pitches through four innings. By contrast the Sox were 1-for-12 with men in scoring position through eight innings off nemesis Bruce Chen and the Royals bullpen. The Sox had the bases loaded in the third with no outs and failed to score.Alex Gordon’s two-run double eluded right fielder Dayan Viciedo in the seventh, ending Sale’s evening.

What it means: The Sox magic number remained at 13 after the Tigers beat Oakland.

Outside the box: Chen is 6-2 against Chicago over the past two seasons and Kansas City has won 11 of 17 in the season series.

Up next: LHP Francisco Liriano ( 6-11 5.24 ) opposes RHP Jeremy Guthrie ( 7-12 4.92 ) in the finale of the three game set. (7:10 CST).