Kansas City, MO -- (Sports Network) - Orlando Cabrera went 2-for-6 and drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the 13th inning, as the Chicago White Sox outlasted the Kansas City Royals, 8-7, in the opener of a three-game set.

The ChiSox jumped on top in the 13th inning. Alexei Ramirez cracked a one-out single and came around as Cabrera followed with a double, giving Chicago an 8-7 cushion.

Esteban German led the home half off with a single off Nick Masset. David DeJesus went down swinging for the first out, though Matt Aviles put runners on the corners with a single. Alex Gordon then worked a walk to load the bases, however, pinch-hitter Mark Grudzielanek grounded into a double play to end the game.

Nick Swisher and AJ Pierzynski each had a pair of RBI for the White Sox, who have won three in a row and are 8-2 over their last 10 games. Jim Thome ended 4-for-5 with two doubles and scored three times, while Joe Crede hit a solo home run and finished with two RBI.

Masset (1-0) earned the win as he threw the final two innings and gave up three hits. Jose Contreras started and went 5 2/3 innings while giving up five runs on 10 hits.

DeJesus and Aviles both had two RBI for the Royals, who have dropped four of five. Jose Guillen had a triple in defeat.

"This is one of those games you had to battle through," Aviles said. "This is where the mental focus has to come up and you have to stay in there."

Kyle Davies lasted 5 2/3 innings for KC and yielded three runs on nine hits. Robinson Tejeda (0-1) absorbed the loss as he gave up a run on three hits over the final two frames.

The White Sox went up 1-0 early. Thome led the second inning off with a double, moved to third as Paul Konerko grounded out and scored when Swisher grounded out.

The Royals jumped on top 3-1 in the home second. Ross Gload clubbed a one-out single and moved to second on a passed ball before Miguel Olivo walked. A German single then scored Gload, and a wild pitch put runners in scoring position. DeJesus then hit into an RBI groundout and Aviles chipped in an RBI single.

KC tacked on another run in the third inning. Mark Teahen led off with a double, moved to third as Gload grounded out and came around as Olivo singled.

Thome led the sixth inning off with a double and advanced as Davies uncorked a wild pitch. Konerko then produced an RBI groundout and Crede belted a two- out homer over the fence in left to bring the Sox within 4-3.

"That was one of those games where, hopefully if we're going where we want to go to, we look back on it," Konerko said. "It was one of those games it's not of those 60 you're going to definitely win or definitely lose. It's one of the other ones you had to go out and earn."

Back-to-back doubles from German and DeJesus led to the Royals increasing their lead to 5-3 in the home sixth.

The ChiSox evened things at 5-5 in the eighth. Thome hit a one-out single and Konerko followed with a walk before Ron Mahay was called on in relief. He gave up an RBI single to Swisher, which moved pinch-running Brian Anderson to third. Anderson would cross home as Crede belted a sac fly to right-center.

It remained tied until extra innings, when Chicago took a 7-5 lead in the 11th. Crede and Ramirez hit consecutive singles with one out and Cabrera reached on a slow roller to German. Pierzynski then hit a deep sac fly to right-center, which had Joey Gathright diving for the ball, allowing two runs to cross home plate.

Scott Linebrink came in for the home 11th and gave up a one-out single to German, who took second base uncontested. DeJesus flied out to right for the second out, though he advanced the German to third. Aviles followed with an RBI single through the left side of the infield, and it was a one-run game.

Facing a full count, Gordon crushed an RBI double to deep right, tying the game at seven. John Buck followed by flying out to center to end the threat.

Game Notes

The White Sox improved to 19-24 on the road this year with the win...The White Sox lead the Minnesota Twins by 2 1/2 games for first place in the AL Central as they lost to Boston, 6-5, Tuesday...The White Sox activated Konerko off the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, he was 1-for-3 with an RBI. To make room for Konerko on the 25-man roster, the White Sox designated infielder Pablo Ozuna for assignment.