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Iguchi singles in two in 10th as White Sox stop Royals

Jul 1, 2007 - 3:56 AM KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- Tadahito Iguchi singled in the go-ahead runs in the 10th inning as the Chicago White Sox ended the Kansas City Royals' five-game winning streak with a 3-1 victory on Saturday night.

After the White Sox stranded two batters in the ninth, A.J. Pierzynski led off the 10th with a soft single to center field off closer Octavio Dotel (0-1). Scott Podsednik was hit by a pitch and, after Dotel retired rookie Andy Gonzalez and Jim Thome, both runners moved up on a wild pitch.

After Paul Konerko was intentionally walked, Iguchi then stroked a ground single just to the left of diving second baseman Esteban German, plating both runs.

"Our pitchers were really doing well, so I really wanted to do well for the pitchers," Iguchi said through an interpreter. "After they walked Paulie before me, I wanted to keep the rally going. Octavio was having control problems, so I was waiting for my pitch and got what I was looking for."

Former Royal Ryan Bukvich (1-0) retired one batter on one pitch to get the win and closer Bobby Jenks worked a perfect 10th for his 21st save in 23 chances.

"The way (John) Danks pitched, I wish I would transfer the win over to him," Bukvich said. "He pitched a heckuva game. I come in and get one pitch and I get the win."

It was Buckvich's first major league win since April 3, 2003, which was ironically against the White Sox.

The win improved Chicago to 5-1 on the seven-game road trip.

Before the late-inning heroics, an unexpected pitchers' duel broke out between a pair of lefthanders - rookie Danks of Chicago and veteran Odalis Perez of Kansas City.

Danks entered with one victory in six starts since May 22 and a 5.18 ERA in June. Perez was 2-5 in his previous 11 starts, and opponents were hitting .322 off him for the season.

Danks surrendered a solo home run by Emil Brown in the seventh that tied the contest at 1-1. Perez gave up only a run in the first inning through seven innings.

"I'm happy with my approach," Perez said. "If I pitch 20 times and 18 are like this I'm happy. I pitched well and I can go home tonight and sleep well."

Perez knew the way Danks was pitching, that he could ill afford to give up much.

"He was throwing strikes and getting people out, putting zeros on the scoreboard," Perez said. "When he's doing that, that's what you've got to do, too. It was a great job by that kid, good for him. He pitched his fanny off."

Perez started shaky, walking Podsednik and Gonzalez on nine pitches. Thome singled to center to score Podsednik, but Perez settled down thereafter, coaxing Paul Konerko to ground into a double play and retiring Iguchi on a fly ball to center.

"In the first inning those two walks, the ball was slipping," Perez said. "Then after that whenever I got in trouble, I was able to get ground balls and get out of it."

After Podsednik's double to lead off the third, Perez did not give up another hit until Juan Uribe's two-out single in the seventh.

Perez left after seven innings, matching his longest outing of the season. He allowed just three hits and four walks.

Danks, who the White Sox acquired in a December trade with the Texas Rangers, allowed singles to German and Mark Teahen in the fourth inning. German went to third on Brown's flyout to right, but Danks got out of trouble by getting Alex Gordon to ground into a double play.

Brown, who was in a 1-for-20 skid, homered on a 1-1 pitch deep into the left field seats to tie the score in the seventh. It was Brown's third blast of the season and first since June 2.

"I just got a fastball up and over the plate a little bit," Danks said. "I was praying just keep it in the park. I was glad it ended in the seats and not out of the stadium."

Danks departed after a season-high eight innings, surrendering just four hits and a walk with six strikeouts. Danks said he made an adjustment of moving to the far third base side of the rubber, which is the complete other side I was on.

"I felt that gave me better command inside to righties," Danks said. "My two-seamer was able to run a little more and stay on the plate a little longer. I felt pretty comfortable over there. I think that is something that is going to stay Other than that, I felt like I had it clicking a little bit."

The loss prevented the Royals from inching past the White Sox and moving out of the Central Division basement, which they have occupied the past three years.

"We're trying like heck to get out of there," Royals manager Buddy Bell said. "It's been awhile for this franchise. It shouldn't be the ultimate goal. We know where we're at and where we want to go."