GAME THREAD: AL: KANSAS CITY (55-70) at CHI WHITE SOX (56-69)

AL: KANSAS CITY at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 7 10 0
CHI WHITE SOX 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 6 9 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER, JIMMY GOBBLE (7TH), JOAKIM SORIA (8TH) AND
JASON LARUE

CHA - JOSE CONTRERAS, MIKE MYERS (7TH), GAVIN FLOYD
(8TH) AND TOBY HALL


WP - BRIAN BANNISTER (10-7)
LP - JOSE CONTRERAS (6-16)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: KAN - BILLY BUTLER (5) OFF MIKE MYERS IN THE 7TH, 1 ON

CHA - PAUL KONERKO (25) OFF JIMMY GOBBLE IN THE 8TH, 0 ON
JOSH FIELDS (15) OFF JOAKIM SORIA IN THE 9TH, 2 ON


TIME: 3:11 ATT: 31,739

PROBABLES: BOS - JOSH BECKETT (15-5, 3.15)
CHA - JOHN DANKS (6-11, 5.30)

PROBABLES: CLE - C.C. SABATHIA (14-6, 3.43)
KAN - ZACK GREINKE (5-5, 4.40)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (7) VS CHI WHITE SOX (6) - FINAL

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Gathright lf 5 1 1 0 0 1 2 .358
M Grudzielanek 2b 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 .303
D DeJesus cf 5 2 3 1 0 0 0 .274
B Butler dh 4 1 1 3 0 0 3 .298
R Gload 1b 4 0 1 1 0 1 0 .301
E Brown rf 4 1 1 0 0 2 1 .235
A Gordon 3b 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 .246
J Smith ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .200
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
J LaRue c 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 .145

Totals 36 7 10 6 1 5 10

BATTING: 2B - A Gordon (27, J Contreras). HR - B Butler (5, 7th inning off M
Myers 1 on, 2 Out). SF - B Butler. RBI - B Butler 3 (40), R Gload (41), M
Grudzielanek (41), D DeJesus (50). 2-out RBI - R Gload, M Grudzielanek, D
DeJesus, B Butler 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Grudzielanek
1, J LaRue 1, J Gathright 1, B Butler 2. Team LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: SB - D DeJesus (7, 2nd base off J Contreras/T Hall), J Gathright
2 (9, 2nd base off J Contreras/T Hall, 3rd base off J Contreras/T Hall).


CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 3 1 0 0 2 1 0 .246
J Fields 3b 4 1 1 3 1 2 2 .245
J Thome dh 5 1 2 0 0 2 1 .265
S Podsednik pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
P Konerko 1b 4 2 1 1 1 1 1 .270
D Erstad lf 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 .272
J Dye rf 4 0 1 1 0 1 1 .245
J Uribe ss 4 1 2 0 0 0 3 .225
D Richar 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .186
T Hall c 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .224

Totals 36 6 9 6 4 8 12

BATTING: 2B - J Thome (16, B Bannister); J Uribe (11, J Soria). HR - P Konerko
(25, 8th inning off J Gobble 0 on, 1 Out), J Fields (15, 9th inning off J Soria
2 on, 2 Out). RBI - D Erstad (27), J Dye (63), P Konerko (69), J Fields 3 (46).
2-out RBI - D Erstad, J Dye, J Fields 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - J Uribe 1, J Fields 1. Team LOB - 7.

FIELDING: E - T Hall (3, throw).


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 220 000 210 -- 7
CHI WHITE SOX - 200 000 013 -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bannister (W, 10-7) 6 2/3 5 2 2 2 3 0 3.28
J Gobble 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 3.32
J Soria 1 1/3 3 3 3 1 3 1 2.48

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Contreras (L, 6-16) 6 6 4 4 1 3 0 6.18
M Myers 1 2 2 2 0 1 1 3.02
G Floyd 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 7.06

HBP - M Grudzielanek (by J Contreras); J LaRue (by J Contreras).
Pitches-strikes: B Bannister 101-64; J Gobble 23-13; J Soria 36-21; J Contreras
104-68; M Myers 18-12; G Floyd 35-24. Ground balls-fly balls: B Bannister 5-12;
J Gobble 1-0; J Soria 1-0; J Contreras 6-9; M Myers 2-0; G Floyd 2-3. Batters
faced: B Bannister 27; J Gobble 5; J Soria 8; J Contreras 27; M Myers 5; G
Floyd 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Adam Dowdy. 1B--Alfonso Marquez. 2B--Chuck Meriwether. 3B--Tim
Timmons.

T--3:11. Att--31,739.
Weather: 86 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, right
to left.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
KANSAS CITY 7
CHI WHITE SOX 6 FINAL</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KANSAS CITY (7) AT CHI WHITE SOX (6) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

KANSAS CITY 1ST: J Gathright grounded out to shortstop. M Grudzielanek hit
by pitch. D DeJesus singled to center, M Grudzielanek to third. B Butler hit
sacrifice fly to center, M Grudzielanek scored. D DeJesus stole second.
R Gload singled to center, D DeJesus scored. E Brown fouled out to catcher.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 2, CHI WHITE SOX 0.

CHI WHITE SOX 1ST: J Owens lined out to third. J Fields struck out
swinging. J Thome doubled to left. P Konerko walked. D Erstad singled to
right, J Thome scored, P Konerko to third. J Dye singled to left, P Konerko
scored, D Erstad to second. J Uribe flied out to right. (2 Runs, 3 Hits,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 2, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

KANSAS CITY 2ND: A Gordon flied out to left. J Smith flied out to left.
J LaRue walked. J Gathright singled to center, J LaRue to third. M Grudzielanek
singled to left, J LaRue scored, J Gathright to second. D DeJesus singled to
right, J Gathright scored, M Grudzielanek to third, D DeJesus to second
advancing on throw. B Butler popped out to first. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 4, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

KANSAS CITY 7TH: M Myers relieved J Contreras. J Gathright struck out
swinging. M Grudzielanek grounded out to shortstop. D DeJesus reached on bunt
single to pitcher. B Butler homered to right, D DeJesus scored. R Gload
grounded out to first. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 6, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

KANSAS CITY 8TH: G Floyd relieved M Myers. E Brown singled to right.
A Gordon singled to right center, E Brown to third. J Smith struck out looking.
A Gordon stole second, E Brown scored on throwing error by catcher T Hall.
J LaRue fouled out to first, A Gordon to third. J Gathright flied out to right.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) KANSAS CITY 7, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

CHI WHITE SOX 8TH: J Thome struck out swinging. P Konerko homered to
center. D Erstad grounded out to second. J Soria relieved J Gobble. J Dye
struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 7, CHI WHITE SOX 3.

CHI WHITE SOX 9TH: T Pena Jr at shortstop. J Uribe doubled to deep right.
D Richar grounded out to shortstop, J Uribe to third. T Hall struck out
swinging. J Owens walked. J Owens to second on fielder's indifference.
J Fields homered to left, J Uribe and J Owens scored. J Thome singled to left.
S Podsednik ran for J Thome. P Konerko struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 3 Hits,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 7, CHI WHITE SOX 6.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KANSAS CITY (7) AT CHI WHITE SOX (6) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kansas City Starting Lineups -- J Gathright LF, M Grudzielanek 2B, D DeJesus CF,
B Butler DH, R Gload 1B, E Brown RF, A Gordon 3B, J Smith SS, J LaRue C,
B Bannister RHP.

Chi White Sox Starting Lineups -- J Owens CF, J Fields 3B, J Thome DH,
P Konerko 1B, D Erstad LF, J Dye RF, J Uribe SS, D Richar 2B, T Hall C,
J Contreras RHP.

Umpires -- Adam Dowdy (HP), Alfonso Marquez (1B), Chuck Meriwether (2B),
Tim Timmons (3B).

Gametime Weather: 86 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind right to left at 7 mph.


KANSAS CITY 1ST: J Gathright grounded out to shortstop. M Grudzielanek hit
by pitch. D DeJesus singled to center, M Grudzielanek to third. B Butler hit
sacrifice fly to center, M Grudzielanek scored. D DeJesus stole second.
R Gload singled to center, D DeJesus scored. E Brown fouled out to catcher.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 2, CHI WHITE SOX 0.

CHI WHITE SOX 1ST: J Owens lined out to third. J Fields struck out
swinging. J Thome doubled to left. P Konerko walked. D Erstad singled to
right, J Thome scored, P Konerko to third. J Dye singled to left, P Konerko
scored, D Erstad to second. J Uribe flied out to right. (2 Runs, 3 Hits,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 2, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

KANSAS CITY 2ND: A Gordon flied out to left. J Smith flied out to left.
J LaRue walked. J Gathright singled to center, J LaRue to third. M Grudzielanek
singled to left, J LaRue scored, J Gathright to second. D DeJesus singled to
right, J Gathright scored, M Grudzielanek to third, D DeJesus to second
advancing on throw. B Butler popped out to first. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 4, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

CHI WHITE SOX 2ND: D Richar grounded out to third. T Hall flied out to
left. J Owens struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 4,
CHI WHITE SOX 2.

KANSAS CITY 3RD: R Gload struck out looking. E Brown struck out swinging.
A Gordon grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 4,
CHI WHITE SOX 2.

CHI WHITE SOX 3RD: J Fields flied out to right. J Thome popped out to
shortstop. P Konerko grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 4, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

KANSAS CITY 4TH: J Smith flied out to center. J LaRue hit by pitch.
J Gathright grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, J LaRue out at second.
J Gathright stole second. J Gathright stole third. M Grudzielanek grounded out
to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 4, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

CHI WHITE SOX 4TH: D Erstad singled to left. J Dye flied out to right.
J Uribe lined out to second. D Richar lined out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 4, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

KANSAS CITY 5TH: D DeJesus flied out to left. B Butler flied out to right.
R Gload flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 4,
CHI WHITE SOX 2.

CHI WHITE SOX 5TH: T Hall grounded out to third. J Owens grounded out
to first. J Fields walked. J Thome struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 4, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

KANSAS CITY 6TH: E Brown struck out swinging. A Gordon doubled to deep
right. J Smith grounded out to shortstop, A Gordon to third. J LaRue grounded
out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 4, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

CHI WHITE SOX 6TH: P Konerko lined out to left. D Erstad grounded out
to first. J Dye popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 4, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

KANSAS CITY 7TH: M Myers relieved J Contreras. J Gathright struck out
swinging. M Grudzielanek grounded out to shortstop. D DeJesus reached on bunt
single to pitcher. B Butler homered to right, D DeJesus scored. R Gload
grounded out to first. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 6, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

CHI WHITE SOX 7TH: J Uribe singled to center. D Richar flied out to left.
T Hall fouled out to catcher. J Gobble relieved B Bannister. J Owens walked,
J Uribe to second. J Fields struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 6, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

KANSAS CITY 8TH: G Floyd relieved M Myers. E Brown singled to right.
A Gordon singled to right center, E Brown to third. J Smith struck out looking.
A Gordon stole second, E Brown scored on throwing error by catcher T Hall.
J LaRue fouled out to first, A Gordon to third. J Gathright flied out to right.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) KANSAS CITY 7, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

CHI WHITE SOX 8TH: J Thome struck out swinging. P Konerko homered to
center. D Erstad grounded out to second. J Soria relieved J Gobble. J Dye
struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 7, CHI WHITE SOX 3.

KANSAS CITY 9TH: M Grudzielanek grounded out to shortstop. D DeJesus
grounded out to shortstop. B Butler popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 7, CHI WHITE SOX 3.

CHI WHITE SOX 9TH: T Pena Jr at shortstop. J Uribe doubled to deep right.
D Richar grounded out to shortstop, J Uribe to third. T Hall struck out
swinging. J Owens walked. J Owens to second on fielder's indifference.
J Fields homered to left, J Uribe and J Owens scored. J Thome singled to left.
S Podsednik ran for J Thome. P Konerko struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 3 Hits,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 7, CHI WHITE SOX 6.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (7) VS CHI WHITE SOX (6) - FINAL

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Gathright lf 5 1 1 0 0 1 2 .358
M Grudzielanek 2b 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 .303
D DeJesus cf 5 2 3 1 0 0 0 .274
B Butler dh 4 1 1 3 0 0 3 .298
R Gload 1b 4 0 1 1 0 1 0 .301
E Brown rf 4 1 1 0 0 2 1 .235
A Gordon 3b 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 .246
J Smith ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .200
T Pena Jr ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
J LaRue c 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 .145

Totals 36 7 10 6 1 5 10

BATTING: 2B - A Gordon (27, J Contreras). HR - B Butler (5, 7th inning off M
Myers 1 on, 2 Out). SF - B Butler. RBI - B Butler 3 (40), R Gload (41), M
Grudzielanek (41), D DeJesus (50). 2-out RBI - R Gload, M Grudzielanek, D
DeJesus, B Butler 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Grudzielanek
1, J LaRue 1, J Gathright 1, B Butler 2. Team LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: SB - D DeJesus (7, 2nd base off J Contreras/T Hall), J Gathright
2 (9, 2nd base off J Contreras/T Hall, 3rd base off J Contreras/T Hall),
A Gordon (13, 2nd base off G Floyd/T Hall).


CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 3 1 0 0 2 1 0 .246
J Fields 3b 4 1 1 3 1 2 2 .245
J Thome dh 5 1 2 0 0 2 1 .265
S Podsednik pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
P Konerko 1b 4 2 1 1 1 1 1 .270
D Erstad lf 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 .272
J Dye rf 4 0 1 1 0 1 1 .245
J Uribe ss 4 1 2 0 0 0 3 .225
D Richar 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .186
T Hall c 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .224

Totals 36 6 9 6 4 8 12

BATTING: 2B - J Thome (16, B Bannister); J Uribe (11, J Soria). HR - P Konerko
(25, 8th inning off J Gobble 0 on, 1 Out), J Fields (15, 9th inning off J Soria
2 on, 2 Out). RBI - D Erstad (27), J Dye (63), P Konerko (69), J Fields 3 (46).
2-out RBI - D Erstad, J Dye, J Fields 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - J Uribe 1, J Fields 1. Team LOB - 7.

FIELDING: E - T Hall (3, throw).


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 220 000 210 -- 7
CHI WHITE SOX - 200 000 013 -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bannister (W, 10-7) 6 2/3 5 2 2 2 3 0 3.28
J Gobble 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 3.32
J Soria 1 1/3 3 3 3 1 3 1 2.48

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Contreras (L, 6-16) 6 6 4 4 1 3 0 6.18
M Myers 1 2 2 2 0 1 1 3.02
G Floyd 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 7.06

HBP - M Grudzielanek (by J Contreras); J LaRue (by J Contreras).
Pitches-strikes: B Bannister 101-64; J Gobble 23-13; J Soria 36-21; J Contreras
104-68; M Myers 18-12; G Floyd 35-24. Ground balls-fly balls: B Bannister 5-12;
J Gobble 1-0; J Soria 1-0; J Contreras 6-9; M Myers 2-0; G Floyd 2-3. Batters
faced: B Bannister 27; J Gobble 5; J Soria 8; J Contreras 27; M Myers 5; G
Floyd 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Adam Dowdy. 1B--Alfonso Marquez. 2B--Chuck Meriwether. 3B--Tim
Timmons.

T--3:11. Att--31,739.
Weather: 86 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, right
to left.</div>

 

Bannister sharp as Royals edge White Sox

<h3>KANSAS CITY 7, CHI WHITE SOX 6</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Brian Bannister tossed 6 2/3 effectiveinnings and Billy Butler homered and drove in three runs as theKansas City Royals held on for a 7-6 victory over the ChicagoWhite Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on Wednesday afternoon.

David DeJesus had three hits and an RBI for the Royals, whosnapped a three-game losing streak and salvaged the finale of athree-game series against the White Sox.


Bannister (10-7), who was just as sharp in an 8-1 win overChicago on June 29, allowed two runs and five hits whilestriking out three and walking two in this one.


With a runner on first and two outs in the eighth, therighthander was relieved by lefthander Jimmy Gobble, who matchedup with lefthanded-hitting Jerry Owens. Gobble walked Owensbut struck out Josh Fields to end the threat.


Gobble then got the first two outs of the eighth before JoakimSoria entered to record the final four outs with a four-runlead.


But it was not easy as the Royals closer allowed three runs inthe final frame before ending the threat by retiring White Soxslugger Paul Konerko, who represented the winning run, with astrikeout.


The Royals got on the board in the first inning off Chicagostarter Jose Contreras (6-16). Mark Grudzielanek was hit by apitch with one out and, after DeJesus' single moved Grudzielanekto third, Butler opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly.

DeJesus stole second base and was plated by Ross Gload's RBIsingle to make it 2-0.


The White Sox tied the game in the bottom of the frame with atwo-out rally. Jim Thome doubled and Konerko walked, setting upDarin Erstad's RBI single.


Jermaine Dye then ripped a single to plate Konerko to even thegame at 2-2.


Kansas City went on a two-out rally of its own in the secondwith walk by Jason LaRue and Joey Gathright's single to startthe outburst. Grudzielanek and DeJesus then strokedback-to-back run-scoring singles to make it 4-2.


The Royals opened their lead with two runs in the seventh andone in the eighth. Butler blasted a two-run shot in the seventhand, one inning later, Emil Brown scored on catcher Toby Hall'sthrowing error.


Contreras yielded four runs and six hits in six innings whilestriking out one and walking three.


Fields belted a three-run shot for Chicago, which had won two ina row after snapping an eight-game losing streak on Monday.

 

Bannister sharp as Royals edge White Sox

<h3>KANSAS CITY 7, CHI WHITE SOX 6</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Brian Bannister tossed 6 2/3 effectiveinnings and Billy Butler homered and drove in three runs as theKansas City Royals held on for a 7-6 victory over the ChicagoWhite Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on Wednesday afternoon.

David DeJesus had three hits and an RBI for the Royals, whosnapped a three-game losing streak in salvaging the finale of athree-game series against the White Sox.


Kansas City was coming off a successful series against theOakland Athletics in which it won two of three.


"You never want to come to a place and get swept after you'vehad a good series like we had in Oakland," Butler said. "Wewere set up to sweep there, and they were set up to sweep ushere. We played tough this series, but we got some bad breaks."

Bannister (10-7), who was just as sharp in an 8-1 win overChicago on June 29, allowed two runs and five hits whilestriking out three and walking two in this one.


"(Bannister) pitched great," Royals manager Buddy Bell said."After the first inning, he was locked in with two strikes.Great tempo. Typical Banny game. Not a lot of baserunners.But when he did get baserunners, he made some pitches."

"The biggest thing in this game is being able to makeadjustments," Bannister said. "I think the team that can makethe adjustments quickest often wins a game, whether it's ahitter's approach to the pitcher or a pitcher's approach to thehitter."


Bannister pinpointed some specific issues with his delivery.

"I came in after the first, watched myself on tape, made somemechanical adjustments," he said. "My front shoulder was flyingopen a little bit, and that was causing me to land on my heal alittle bit.


"So, I went through it a couple times, made the necessaryadjustments and went back out there and had a good secondinning, and it was good from there."


With a runner on first and two outs in the eighth, therighthander was relieved by lefthander Jimmy Gobble, who matchedup with the lefthanded-hitting Jerry Owens. Gobble walkedOwens but struck out Josh Fields to end the threat.

Gobble then got the first two outs of the eighth before JoakimSoria recorded the final four outs with a four-run lead.

But it was not easy as the Royals closer allowed three runs inthe final frame before ending the threat by retiring White Soxslugger Paul Konerko, who represented the winning run, with astrikeout.


"Hopefully, we don't have to deal with that every single game,"Bell said. "For a young guy, that's not all bad. Understandthat this is a tough game and you're going to have some inningsthat don't work out the way you want them to. For youngplayers, that's an important experience for them."

Despite his struggles, Bell praised his closer's perseverance.

"Soria's makeup is incredible," the manager said. "We saw thatfrom the first day of spring training. He understands how toplay. He understands the ups and downs. For someone that youngand inexperienced, it's pretty incredible that he has thatresiliency."


The Royals got on the board in the first inning against Chicagostarter Jose Contreras (6-16). Mark Grudzielanek was hit by apitch with one out and, after DeJesus' single moved Grudzielanekto third, Butler opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly.

DeJesus stole second base and was plated by Ross Gload's single,making it 2-0.


The White Sox tied the game in the bottom of the frame with atwo-out rally. Jim Thome doubled and Konerko walked, setting upDarin Erstad's RBI single.


Jermaine Dye then ripped a single to plate Konerko and even thegame at 2-2.


Kansas City staged a two-out rally of its own in the second asJason LaRue walked and Joey Gathright singled. Grudzielanek andDeJesus then stroked consecutive run-scoring singles to make it4-2.


The Royals extended their lead with two runs in the seventh andone in the eighth. Butler blasted a two-run shot in the seventhand, one inning later, Emil Brown scored on catcher Toby Hall'sthrowing error.


Contreras yielded four runs and six hits in six innings whilestriking out one and walking three.


"The biggest problem for (Contreras) was location," Chicagomanager Ozzie Guillen said. "He walked guys and they scored.After the second inning, he settled down a little bit. When Iwent to the mound, I said, 'I don't care how many innings you'regoing to throw, I want you to be aggressive and give me thebest stuff you have.'"


Fields belted a three-run homer for Chicago, which had won twoin a row after snapping an eight-game losing streak on Monday.

"It was an off-speed pitch that he left up a little bit, and itwas one I finally stayed back on and didn't miss," Fields saidof his blast. "I'd been missing pitches all day long, and thatat-bat, I said regardless of the outcome, I was going to stayback and put a good swing on it. Maybe I need to do that moreoften."