Final
White Sox try to rebound in matchup with Royals
Aug 18, 2012 - 2:45 PMVideo
Despite utilizing their promising young starting pitcher Chris Sale (14-4), the White Sox fell to Kansas City, 4-2, in the series opener to increase their losing streak versus the Royals to three games. The defeat narrowed Chicago's lead over Detroit in the division standings to just 1 1/2 games.
Paul Konerko returned from the disabled list and hit a home run for Chicago in the opener. Second baseman Gordon Beckham produced an RBI and went 2-for-3 at the plate in the losing effort, but Kevin Youkilis and Adam Dunn combined to go 0-for-6 with three strike outs.
Youkilis could have a memorable day on Saturday, as he enters just one hit shy of his 1,000th career hit.
Sale's loss puts more pressure on Jake Peavy to be effective on Saturday. Peavy has delivered four quality starts in a row and gone 2-1 with a 2.23 ERA over that span. The right-hander lost to Kansas City on Aug. 7 in a game that had the similar playoff race implications. The recent memory should serve as motivation for Peavy in this one.
"I did not see the scoreboard tonight. I don't really care," said Peavy, after giving the White Sox a chance to win over 6 2/3 innings and 104 pitches in the loss to the Royals. "You got to take care of business here. Losing a game like we lost tonight, when you feel like it could have went differently, it [stinks]. There's no other way to say it."
Bruce Chen earned the decision for Kansas City in that matchup, and he will try to repeat that success tonight. The southpaw comes in with an 8-10 record and a 5.56 ERA, but he is 4-1 with a 2.79 ERA in his last eight outings against Chicago. With eight wins, Chen is the team's leader.
"I guess because they have such a good lineup, I think I concentrate and focus a little bit better because any mistake you make you can pay for it," said Chen on his success versus the White Sox.
Alexei Ramirez is just 1-for-22 in his career versus Chen. Konerko, Alex Rios, and Beckham have also struggled against the left-hander throughout their head- to-head matchups.
He did not fare quite as well on Sunday versus Baltimore, as he gave up four runs, four hits, and two home runs in the team's 5-3 loss to the Orioles.
Kansas City's 22-year old catcher Salvador Perez was the hero in Friday's win due to his two-run, tie-breaking double in the seventh inning that changed the complexion of the ballgame. Perez has a career batting average of .316 in 80 games.
Billy Butler and Lorenzo Cain both hit solo home runs for the Royals, who are 10-6 in August so far. Butler now has team-leading totals of 25 home runs and 76 RBI in 2012. The All-Star designed hitter is 10-for-25 with three home runs and five RBI in his career versus Peavy.
Second baseman Chris Getz suffered a broken left thumb on Friday which will cause him to miss the rest of the season. The Royals called up their highly regarded prospect Johnny Giavotella from Triple-A Omaha. He was hitting .323 with 10 home runs and 71 RBI in the minors prior to the recent call up.
Kansas City is 6-4 against the White Sox this season.
- CHICAGO: 4
KANSAS CITY: 9
Final
Aug 18 10:09 PM - Mike Moustakas two-out, three-run Home Run (19) to right scored Alex Gordon and Billy Butler. Jeff Francoeur due up.
White Sox 4, Royals 9 Bot 8, 2 OutsAug 18 10:01 PM - Billy Butler single to left scored Alcides Escobar with two outs. On the play, Alex Gordon advances to second. Runners on first and second and Mike Moustakas due up.
White Sox 4, Royals 6 Bot 8, 2 OutsAug 18 10:01 PM - Adam Dunn one-out, two-run Home Run (35) to left center scored Kevin Youkilis. Paul Konerko due up.
White Sox 4, Royals 5 Top 8, 1 OutAug 18 9:43 PM - Eric Hosmer lead-off Home Run (11) to right. Brayan Pena due up.
White Sox 2, Royals 5 Bot 6, 0 OutsAug 18 9:00 PM - Paul Konerko one-out, two-run Home Run (20) to left center scored Adam Dunn. Alex Rios due up.
White Sox 2, Royals 4 Top 6, 1 OutAug 18 8:55 PM - Billy Butler single to right scored Alcides Escobar with two outs. Runner on first and Mike Moustakas due up.
White Sox 0, Royals 4 Bot 5, 2 OutsAug 18 8:45 PM - Mike Moustakas single to right scored Billy Butler, advances to third on Alex Rios's fielding error with two out. Runner on third and Jeff Francoeur due up.
White Sox 0, Royals 3 Bot 3, 2 OutsAug 18 8:08 PM - Billy Butler was hit-by-pitch. Runners on first and second with one out and Mike Moustakas due up.
White Sox 0, Royals 1 Bot 1, 1 OutAug 18 7:28 PM - CHICAGO: 0
KANSAS CITY: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Aug 18 7:10 PM
Related News
- Royals Rumblings - News for December 26, 2023 Dec 26
- Royals Rundown: Recapping moves, MJ Melendez update, and love/hate new MLB rules? Dec 25
- 2024 South Side Sox Prospect Vote: Round 14 Dec 25
- Today in White Sox History: December 25 Dec 25
- Soxivus Week 4 companion: Soxivus Miracles Dec 24
- Sox Populi Podcast 168/Soxivus Celebration Week 4 — Soxivus Miracles Dec 24
- The Royals got me what I wanted for Christmas Dec 23
- Weekend Rumblings - News for December 23, 2023 Dec 23
- Royals Review Roundtable: The free-spending Royals Dec 22
- Royals Rumblings - News for December 22, 2023 Dec 22
- 2024 South Side Sox Prospect Vote: Round 13 Dec 21
- The Royals’ offense could be better than you think Dec 21