White Sox 5 - 2 Royals
Final
  for this game

Buehrle tosses White Sox past Royals

Jul 19, 2011 - 4:18 AM

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Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Mark Buehrle hurled seven strong innings as the White Sox took down the Royals, 5-2, in the opener of a three-game series.

Buehrle (7-5) allowed just two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out three to snap a five-start winless stretch. He moved to 22-11 lifetime against the Royals.

Juan Pierre had two hits, an RBI and a run scored as Chicago won for the fourth time in six games.

Kyle Davies (1-9) lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs -- two earned -- on five hits and three walks to lose his eighth straight start. He has not recorded a win since April 13 against Minnesota.

"I think this is one of the best starts this year for [Davies]. I think he's doing a pretty good job for us and I think he's back," said Royals catcher Brayan Pena.

Billy Butler had two doubles and knocked in a run for Kansas City, losers in seven of its last nine contests.

Chicago jumped out to an early lead after Pierre led off the game with a triple into right field and came home on Alexei Ramirez's sacrifice fly.

Ramirez singled with two outs in the third and came around to score when Paul Konerko followed with a double into the left-center gap, giving the White Sox a 2-0 lead.

Kansas City tied the game in the fifth inning. Alcides Escobar singled to lead off the frame, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Chris Getz, advanced to third on a Mitch Maier fly out and came home when Melky Cabrera pulled a base hit through the left side of the infield. Cabrera then came around to score on Butler's double down the left-field line.

But Chicago took the lead right back in the sixth thanks to a costly error. A.J. Pierzynski worked a one-out walk and Gordon Beckham followed with a potential double-play ball to short. Escobar fielded the ball cleanly, but his throw to second was wide to the right and made its way all the way to the wall, putting runners on second and third.

Everett Teaford was then brought in to replace Davies and allowed a run- scoring groundout to Mark Teahen and an RBI single to Pierre, giving the White Sox a 4-2 lead.

"It feels like our offense is coming alive in the second half," said Buehrle. "Obviously, we're only through four games, but it seems like we're getting those clutch hits. The pitching's there and giving us a chance to win."

Carlos Quentin led off the eighth with a single and was replaced by pinch- runner Brent Lillibridge. Lillibridge stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch before coming home to score on a Beckham groundout, extending Chicago's lead.

Kansas City had chances to take control of the game early, putting runners in scoring position in the first, second and fourth innings, but failed to bring a run across the dish each time. The Royals ended the game 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded five men on base.

Game Notes

Pierre extended his hit streak to 10 games...Beckham extended his hit streak to a career-best nine games...Chicago has now won each of Buehrle's last five starts, but he is just 1-0 in that stretch...Cabrera has now hit safely in 13 of his last 14 contests...The White Sox improved to 9-3 in their last 12 road games.






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