• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Chen helps Royals down White Sox

Aug 13, 2011 - 5:00 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Bruce Chen worked six shutout innings to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 5-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field.

Chen (7-5) yielded one hit -- a single to right by A.J. Pierzynski -- fanned four and walked three. Louis Coleman and Greg Holland combined to finish off the White Sox.

"They are in our division, so I've pitched against them a lot," Chen said. "I have been learning what works and what doesn't. When I come here I am very focused and determined because they have a very good ball club."

Melky Cabrera smashed a three-run homer and Billy Butler picked up the other two RBI with a solo homer and an RBI single for the Royals, who snapped their four-game skid.

Paul Konerko and Juan Pierre picked up the only other hits for Chicago, which had won six of its previous seven contests.

Zach Stewart (1-2) went 6 1/3 innings in defeat, giving up two runs on seven hits while striking out three and walking two.

"I didn't get a feel for it in the first inning until after the first hitter," Stewart said. "After that, I felt like I got into a bit of a groove and felt like I stuck to my game plan."

Kansas City got on the board in its first at-bat. Alex Gordon drew a leadoff walk and Cabrera reached on a bunt single. Butler singled to left to plate the first run of the game. Eric Hosmer laced a single to load the bases with no outs following the RBI. The Royals were unable to capitalize further however, as Stewart fanned Jeff Francouer and induced a 5-4-3 double play from Johnny Giavotella to end the inning.

The White Sox loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the inning when Konerko walked, Carlos Quentin was plunked and Pierzynski singled. Chen got of the jam by getting Alex Rios to fly out to center.

Chicago loaded the bags again with two outs in the third but Rios flew out to deep right to end the threat.

"Chen has pitched well against us," Pierzynski said. "He's done really well against us the last few times out. We had chances, we had the bases loaded two times."

The Royals padded their lead in the sixth on Butler's solo shot to dead center field, his 14th home run of the season.

Kansas City put the game away in the top of the ninth when Cabrera clobbered a pitch from White Sox reliever Matt Thornton deep into the seats in left field to give the Royals a comfortable 5-0 cushion.

The White Sox finally got on the board in the ninth inning thanks to an RBI single by Pierre to make it a 5-1 game.

Game Notes

Quentin was plunked for the major league leading 23rd time this season...The Royals lead the season series between the teams by a 6-3 count...It was Cabrera's 15th bomb of the season...Kansas City is 19-27 against the American League Central, while the ChiSox are 18-21 against intra-division opposition.