Royals 4 - 5 White Sox
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Royals take their swings against Buehrle in Chicago

Jul 4, 2011 - 2:46 PM

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(Sports Network) - Veteran lefty Mark Buehrle makes career appearance No. 49 against Kansas City today when the Chicago White Sox host the Royals in the first test of a three-game set at U.S. Cellular Field.

The White Sox enter the series in third place in the American League's Central Division, trailing the first-place Cleveland Indians by 3 1/2 games and three games in back of the second-place Detroit Tigers.

Kansas City, meanwhile, is last in the five-team loop and trails the Indians by 11 games.

On Sunday in Chicago, Aramis Ramirez's two-run homer was enough for the Cubs to slip by the White Sox, 3-1, and avoid a three-game sweep.

Gavin Floyd (6-8) took the loss after surrendering three runs on seven hits in his seven-inning start.

In Denver, the Royals put on an impressive offensive display at Coors Field, pounding out 21 hits and beating the Rockies 16-8 in the finale of a three- game interleague series.

Melky Cabrera led the attack, going 4-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI while Eric Hosmer went 4-for-6 with a three-run homer and four RBI. Jeff Francoeur added three hits and three RBI for the Royals, who snapped their five-game losing streak.

Blake Wood (4-0) worked 1 2/3 innings in relief of Luke Hochevar to earn the win.

Buehrle, a 38th-round pick of the White Sox back in 1998, has won 21 of 32 career decisions over 48 appearances against the Royals, posting a 3.66 earned run average across 310 innings.

He's allowed 321 hits and recorded 156 strikeouts while allowing a .269 opposition batting average.

Buehrle's given up three runs or less in each of his last 10 starts but is winless in the last three, going 0-1 with two no-decisions while allowing five runs in 15 hits in 19 1/3 innings.

He chalked up a 10-7 defeat of the Royals in his second start of the season back on April 6, escaping with a victory after surrendering eight hits and five runs in five innings.

For Kansas City, lefty Jeff Francis will also look to snap a three-start drought.

The 30-year-old Vancouver native has lost each of his last three outings while giving up 13 runs and 19 hits in 15 1/3 innings against Oakland, Arizona and San Diego.

He last won on June 10 in Anaheim, scattering eight hits over 6 1/3 innings in a 4-2 defeat of the Los Angeles Angels.

Francis lost his lone career decision against the White Sox and has given up 11 runs on 24 hits against them over 18 2/3 innings in three starts.






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