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White Sox double up Royals to avoid 4-game sweep

Sep 19, 2011 - 12:09 AM Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - A.J. Pierzynski finished 4-for-5 with a pair of home runs and four RBI to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 10-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals in the finale of a four-game series at Kauffman Stadium.

Paul Konerko clubbed a solo home run, Brent Morel added a two-run double and Juan Pierre added a pair of hits for the White Sox, who salvaged a game in the set and snapped a seven-game skid.

With the home run, Konerko has reached 30 home runs and 100 RBIs for the fifth time in his career.

"You put the work in. I think I've been the last couple years trying to switch up on what goals are and what is good," Konerko said of his accomplishment. "To me, trying to show for as many games, 150-plus games. I feel like if I do that and stay healthy I make those approach goals more of my goals. The byproduct will be the numbers."

John Danks (7-12) worked six innings to earn the win, giving up four runs -- three earned -- on 10 hits.

Eric Hosmer went 3-for-5 with an RBI and run scored, while Johnny Giavotella picked up three hits including an RBI triple for the Royals, who had their season-best seven-game winning streak ended.

Bruce Chen (11-8) was tagged with the loss after giving up four runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out two and walked two.

The White Sox opened the scoring in the second inning when Pierzynski singled to begin the frame and Viciedo ripped a single to left three batters later. Morel then doubled home both runners, getting Chicago off to an early lead.

Chicago plated two more runs in the fourth to take a 4-0 lead. Rios worked a one-out walk and Dunn followed by ripping a double down the right field line. Viciedo singled to left and Morel walked to load the bases with one out before Beckham brought home Dunn with a sacrifice fly.

Kansas City fought back with a pair of runs in the fifth. Moustakas smoked a double to right to lead off the frame and Brayan Pena reached on an infield single. Yamaico Navarro then brought home Moustakas with a single to right. Gordon then singled to right to load the bases. Following a Cabrera lineout, Butler grounded into a fielder's choice to score Pena.

In the sixth, an RBI triple by Giavotella brought the Royals within one, 4-3.

Konerko and Pierzynski blasted back-to-back solo homers in the seventh to take a three-run lead, 6-3.

A Hosmer RBI single made it 6-4, but Chicago exploded for four runs in the following inning.

Pierre worked a two-out walk and Ramirez singled to begin the rally before Konerko singled home Pierre. The big blow in the frame came off the bat of Pierzynski, who crushed his second home run of the game off Royals reliever Jesse Chavez to push the lead out to 10-4.

The Royals picked up a run in the bottom of the ninth on a RBI single by Giavotella to account for the final margin.

"We weren't able to get those timely hits when we needed them," Moustakas said. "Bruce [Chen] went out and battled like he always does. We just weren't able to push those runs across when we needed to."

Game Notes

Despite the loss, Kansas City won the season series with the White Sox by a 9-6 count...In addition to securing his fifth career 30 home run, 100 RBI season, Konerko's home run also gives him 395 in his career, one home run shy of tying Joe Carter for 51st on the all-time home run list.