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Konerko's blast fuels White Sox past Royals

Jun 5, 2008 - 6:10 AM By Gene Chamberlain PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Paul Konerko hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the 15th inning to give the Chicago White Sox a 6-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

It was Konerko's fourth home run in six career at-bats against Kansas City reliever Jimmy Gobble (0-1). The shot to left field, Konerko's third career walk-off homer, ended a 4-hour, 23-minute marathon.

"It was more like a relief," Konerko said after receiving a shaving cream pie courtesy of teammate Toby Hall and having alcoholic beverages dumped over his head by teammates. "I can't say I was even happy. It was more, like, just a relief because we won the game, because it was over and I did something positive for the team."

Gobble, the Royals' seventh pitcher on the night, had walked Carlos Quentin before Konerko's blast. It was the slugger's first walk-off homer since 2001.

"He needed that at-bat," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I'm so happy for him. To win is awesome, but to see Paul Konerko do it himself was more special."

Slow starts have become Konerko's calling card, but this one has been particularly difficult for him.

"I've always been like that, I'll probably finish (my career) like that," he said. "And I hate it. But it's me."

Octavio Dotel (3-2) pitched 2 2/3 innings of hitless relief, striking out one while hitting two batters and walking one.

Second baseman Alexei Ramirez prevented a run from scoring in the 14th, when he barehanded a ball that deflected off Dotel and threw out David DeJesus at first for the final out as John Buck was about to score.

"Dotel was awesome, and how about the play by Ramirez?" Konerko said. "He made, like, six of those tonight. He's turned into a special player."

DeJesus had tied the game at 4-4 in the ninth against White Sox closer Bobby Jenks with a one-out single to center that plated both Esteban German and pinch runner Joey Gathright. They were the first runs allowed by Jenks after nine straight scoreless outings.

Jim Thome erased an early 2-0 deficit with a two-run shot in the fourth inning and Joe Crede gave the White Sox the lead with a solo home run a frame later. Crede added an RBI double in the sixth to give Chicago a 4-2 edge.

Thome's blast was measured at an estimated 464 feet, the ninth-longest homer in U.S. Cellular Field history.

Royals starter Luke Hochevar allowed four runs, five hits and five walks while striking out two in 5 2/3 innings. Chicago's John Danks also lasted 5 2/3 frames, yielding two runs and six hits with two walks and a strikeout.

Miguel Olivo and Mark Teahen each blasted a solo homer for Kansas City, which has lost 14 of its last 16 contests.

"They made a couple nice plays defensively," Kansas City manager Trey Hillman said. "There just wasn't a lot of hitting out there on our part. Crede and Ramirez made some nice (fielding) plays for them. Our bullpen did a real nice job. We just couldn't come up with any hits."

Crede left the game after 12 innings with a bruised right wrist.