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White Sox come back to edge Royals

Aug 14, 2011 - 6:11 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Alejandro De Aza drew a seventh-inning, bases- loaded walk to push the Chicago White Sox past the Kansas City Royals, 5-4, in the middle contest of a three-game series.

Carlos Quentin ripped a game-tying double earlier in the seventh, plating Juan Pierre, who went 3-for-4. Paul Konerko belted a two-run homer and Tyler Flowers hit his first major league home run to help the White Sox snap a seven-game home losing streak.

"I'm glad we came back to win the game and I'm glad I was able to help. It probably wouldn't mean as much if we didn't get a win out of it," Flowers said about his home run.

Jake Peavy allowed four runs on nine hits over 6 2/3 frames and Jesse Crain (7-3) tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win. Chris Sale threw a perfect ninth to record his fourth save of the season.

Luke Hochevar (8-9) was charged with five runs on eight hits over six-plus frames to suffer the loss, although Aaron Crow walked home the deciding run.

"I felt like the leadoff guy of every inning was on. It was a grinding night and sometimes you run into those," Hochevar said about his outing.

Billy Butler had a two-run single for the Royals, losers of seven of their last nine.

The White Sox left Alexei Ramirez at third in the second, but grabbed the lead an inning later on Konerko's two-run blast to left.

In the fourth, Ramirez led off with a single, stole second and moved up a base on catcher Salvador Perez's throwing error, but was again stranded. De Aza went down on strikes, Brent Morel grounded out and Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar made a deft play on a screaming Brent Lillibridge one-hopper to end the inning.

Kansas City's bats awoke in the fifth. Jeff Francoeur led off with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Flowers. Johnny Giavotella's single plated Francoeur and Perez's double placed runners on second and third. Escobar tied the game with a base hit to right.

Later in the frame, Peavy intentionally walked Melky Cabrera to load the bases and Butler made him pay with a two-out, two-run single.

Flowers led off the home half with a home run and, after leaving runners at the corners in the sixth, the White Sox reclaimed the lead in the seventh.

Pierre and Omar Vizquel led off with a single and walk, respectively, to chase Hochevar. Crow entered and fanned Konerko before Quentin ripped a game- tying double to left. Crow then issued back-to-back walks to Ramirez and De Aza. The second free pass -- on four pitches -- pushed across the go-ahead run.

A half-inning later, singles by Eric Hosmer and Francoeur placed runners at first and second with no outs, but Giavotella lined out and Perez grounded into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.

The game's start was delayed by more than an hour due to rain and in the bottom of the eighth, the skies again opened.

Following a brief delay, the White Sox loaded the bases with two down, but a Ramirez groundout ended the inning.

Sale worked a 1-2-3 ninth as the rain continued to fall.

Game Notes

The White Sox had lost their previous seven home games by a combined score of 54-17. The seven-game home losing streak marked their longest since April 13- May 1 of this season...Flowers was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte on July 10...Konerko extended his hit streak to 10 games...White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski was not in the lineup after bruising his left wrist during Friday's series-opener...Starting Monday, the Royals host the Yankees and Red Sox for a three and four-game set, respectively.