CHICAGO – Even when he is off his game, White Sox pitcher Chris Sale has found a way to deliver a win.

Poor command plagued Sale in his previous four starts, walking 12 batters in 241⁄3 innings, and he was headed down a similar path Saturday against Kansas City. Of the first 17 Royals hitters he faced, Sale fell behind 2-0 in the count five times and ran the count full four times.

However, Sale overcame his command issues and walked only one batter in the Sox’s 5-4 win to increase their lead to two games over the Detroit Tigers.