Chicago, IL -- (Sports Network) - Esteban German had the final say in an offensive clinic, knocking in the game-winning runs on a double in the eighth inning to give the Royals an 8-7 victory over the White Sox.

German finished the day 3-for-3 with the two all-important runs batted in and a run scored. David DeJesus chipped in with three RBI and Mike Aviles added three hits to give the Royals their fifth victory in seven games.

Brian Bannister left with the lead despite going only three innings. The righty gave up five runs on eight hits while striking out four and walking one.

Ramon Ramirez (1-1) got the win despite giving up the lead in the seventh, surrendering two runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings of work, while recording all of his outs via strikeout.

Joakim Soria pitched a perfect ninth for his 26th save of the season.

"The pitching wasn't good on either side today, but when you're playing the division leader it's a good series when you take two out of three," said Royals manager Trey Hillman. "Hopefully this will build some momentum going into Detroit."

Nick Swisher homered and finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Joe Crede added a three-run homer, but the White Sox dropped the final two games of the three-game series.

John Danks couldn't hold the Royals offense down, lasting only four innings on six runs and nine hits, fanning three and walking two. D.J. Carrasco pitched three scoreless innings on only one hit in his first game after being recalled from Triple-A Charlotte to replace Jose Contreras, who was placed on the 15- day disabled list before the game.

Matt Thornton (4-2) received the loss after giving up one run on one hit and a walk in the eighth inning.

"It was kind of an awful game. All of the sudden our starting pitching isn't very good," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "I had to watch an ugly game. We played terrible. If we are going to have any chance to stay in the pennant race we have to play better."

After giving up the lead in the bottom of the seventh, Kansas City took the lead right back in the top of the eighth. German grounded a double down the left field line with two outs to score Jose Guillen and Ross Gload, making the score 8-7.

The White Sox had an opportunity in the eighth to tie the game when Brian Anderson singled with runners on first and second and one out, but Guillen gunned down A.J. Pierzynski at home to preserve the lead.

The Royals got off to a quick start, as Mark Teahen led off the game with a single and Aviles extended his hitting streak to 10 with a double to put runners on second and third with nobody out. DeJesus got both runners home right away on a single to left, giving Kansas City a 2-0 lead.

After DeJesus stole second, he advanced to third on Billy Butler's single to center. Alex Gordon walked two batters later to load the bases, and Gload doubled the lead with a two-out single up the middle to make it 4-0.

The White Sox got two back in the bottom half of the first after stringing together three straight two-out singles, culminating with Jim Thome's RBI hit to center.

Bannister hit the next batter, loading the bases with two outs. The Royals starter appeared rattled, as he followed by walking Swisher on four pitches to make it a 4-2 game. He got out of the jam, though, striking out Crede to end the inning.

DeJesus helped Kansas City extend the lead back to three on an RBI groundout in the second, giving the Royals a 5-2 lead.

Chicago strung together a pair of two-out singles in the third to put runners on the corners, and Crede made it count with a three-run homer to tie the game at five.

The Royals kept up their hot hitting in the fourth, as Aviles got the lead back with an RBI single up the middle with two outs, scoring Gload.

Swisher gave the White Sox a 7-6 lead in the seventh, blasting a two-run homer to left with one out.

Game Notes

Contreras was placed on the DL with right elbow tendinitis...Thome's double in the seventh gives him 2,000 hits for his career, becoming the ninth player in baseball history to amass 2,000 hits, 1,500 walks and 500 home runs...Jermaine Dye left the game in the fourth after being hit in the knee by a pitch. X- rays were negative and he is listed as day-to-day. He was replaced by Anderson.