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Buehrle sharp as White Sox shut out Royals

Aug 14, 2008 - 4:07 AM By Rory Spears PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- For the second night in a row, the Chicago White Sox made quick work of the Kansas City Royals.

Behind Mark Buehrle's seven strong innings, the White Sox defeated the Royals, 4-0, in 2 hours and 17 minutes on Wednesday.

Tuesday night's 9-0 victory in the series opener took Chicago 2 hour, 13 minutes to complete.

"I was actually doing a rain dance in the first inning hoping the rain would get here," Buehrle said. "My stuff was that bad in the bullpen but I will take the results. Now, I am glad we got the game in before the rain could get here."



Buehrle (10-10) won for the fourth time in his last six starts, allowing five hits while striking out five and walking none. The win gave Buehrle eight straight seasons with 10 or more wins.

"I knew I had a streak going," Buehrle said. "If you get a lot of starts and stay off the (disabled list), the wins will come."

The win allowed Chicago (67-52) to remain one-half game ahead of Minnesota (67-53) in the American League Central Division.

"I didn't let (Minnesota) winning (earlier Wednesday) put any more pressure on me," Buehrle said. "Even if it's the last the game of the season with us in or out of the playoff's, I just go out and pitch the same way."

Chicago jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning off Royals starter Luke Hochevar (6-11) when Jermaine Dye's RBI double scored Orlando Cabrera. Dye then scored on Ken Griffey Jr.'s RBI single.

"It was nice to see Junior (Griffey) get a big hit," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I think he has been putting pressure on himself to help our team."

The White Sox upped their lead to 3-0 in the fifth when A.J. Pierzynski's groundout scored Juan Uribe.

"I haven't swung the bat well lately so you have to find other ways to help the team," Pierzynski said. "Tonight, I just tried to get guys over on the bases and help out any way I could."

Kansas City (54-66) wasted two solid scoring chances in the second and third innings, leaving runners stranded on second and third base in both frames.

"We hit some balls hard and they just went right at people," Royals catcher John Buck said. " Sometimes luck is just not on your side."

Hochevar pitched seven innings, giving up five hits. After allowing the RBI single to Griffey in the first , Hochevar retired 19 of the next 21 hitters.

"Hochevar pitched very well," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "In the first inning, he just didn't have his location and tempo yet."

Octavio Dotel tossed a scoreless eighth and Bobby Jenks struck out two in a perfect ninth to record his 25th save.