Paul Konerko hit a two-run homer and Tyler Flowers added his first home run in the majors to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.

Konerko went deep in the third and Flowers added a solo shot in the fifth to help the White Sox snap a seven-game home losing streak. Flowers also had a single and a walk.

Juan Pierre had three singles and scored two runs for Chicago.

Jesse Crain (7-3) got the win in relief after pitching out of starter Jake Peavy’s jam in the seventh and his own in the eighth. Chris Sale got the last three outs, earning his fourth save.

Peavy allowed four runs and nine hits over 6 2-3 innings.

Luke Hochevar (8-9) took the loss, allowing eight hits and five runs in six innings. He had won four straight decisions and hadn’t lost in eight starts dating to June 21.

Billy Butler stroked a two-run single for the Royals, and Johnny Giavotella added two hits and an RBI.

The White Sox have won seven of last their last nine, but they had lost seven straight at U.S. Cellular Field by a combined score of 54-17.

The start of the game was delayed by 1 hour, 25 minutes due to thunderstorms that moved through the Chicago area late Saturday afternoon. There was another delay of 42 minutes prior to the start of the eighth.

The White Sox took the lead with a two-run seventh. Carlos Quentin drove in the tying run with an RBI double into the left-field corner. Alejandro De Aza forced in the go-ahead run with a bases loaded walk.

Both runs came with Royals reliever Aaron Crow on the mound but both were charged to Hochevar, who issued a single and a walk to start the inning before being pulled.

Hochevar pitched out of jams effectively for most of the game, allowing the leadoff man to reach in six of seven innings.

The Royals overcame an early 2-0 deficit with a four-run rally in the fifth. Butler’s two-out, two-run single put the Royals up 4-2.

Butler got his chance when White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen had Melky Cabrera intentionally walked in front of him to load the bases.

The White Sox cut the lead to 4-3 in the fifth on Flowers’ first homer. For Flowers, who was playing in his 25th game over the last three seasons, it was also his first career RBI.

With two outs and one on in the third, Konerko hit a 1-2 fastball into the left field seats, putting the White Sox up 2-0. It was Konerko’s 27th homer and extended his hitting streak to 10 games.

After the Royals fell behind 5-4, they got the first two runners on in the eighth against Crain, but Salvador Perez bounced into an inning-ending double play.

NOTES: White Sox C A.J. Pierzynski (bruised left wrist) was out of the lineup Saturday and manager Ozzie Guillen said he doesn’t expect him to play Sunday against Royals LHP Jeff Francis. … Konerko (left knee) said he is close to being able to return to playing defense. Guillen said Wednesday is the earliest he would consider putting Konerko back at first base. Konerko hasn’t played in the field since being hit by a pitch on July 31 against Boston. … Adam Dunn (personal) was not with the team Saturday and Guillen said he won’t play until Tuesday since the lefty Francis takes the hill Sunday and the team is off Monday. … The Royals and White Sox will play the finale of their three-game series on Sunday afternoon. Francis will start for Kansas City against Chicago’s John Danks. Francis has allowed just four earned runs in 12 2-3 innings in two starts against Chicago this season but has ended up with no-decisions in both outings. Danks started the season 0-8 but is 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA in his last eight starts. The ERA is the fourth-lowest in baseball over that span. … Kansas City’s Melky Cabrera went 2 for 3. He’s hitting .400 (60 for 150) since July 2, the best average in the major leagues. … Mike Moustakas went 0 for 4 and fell to 0 for 31 against the White Sox in his first big-league season.
 

CHICAGO — Paul Konerko hit a two-run homer and Tyler Flowers added his first home run in the majors to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.Konerko went deep in the third and Flowers added a solo shot in the fifth to help the White Sox snap a seven-game home losing streak. Flowers also had a single and a walk.Juan Pierre had three singles and scored two runs for Chicago.Jesse Crain (7-3) got the win in relief after pitching out of starter Jake Peavy’s jam in the seventh and his own in the eighth. Chris Sale got the last three outs, earning his fourth save.Peavy allowed four runs and nine hits over 6 2-3 innings.Luke Hochevar (8-9) took the loss, allowing eight hits and five runs in six innings. He had won four straight decisions and hadn’t lost in eight starts dating to June 21.Billy Butler stroked a two-run single for the Royals, and Johnny Giavotella added two hits and an RBI.The White Sox have won seven of last their last nine, but they had lost seven straight at U.S. Cellular Field by a combined score of 54-17.The start of the game was delayed by 1 hour, 25 minutes due to thunderstorms that moved through the Chicago area late Saturday afternoon. There was another delay of 42 minutes prior to the start of the eighth.The White Sox took the lead with a two-run seventh. Carlos Quentin drove in the tying run with an RBI double into the left-field corner. Alejandro De Aza forced in the go-ahead run with a bases loaded walk.Both runs came with Royals reliever Aaron Crow on the mound but both were charged to Hochevar, who issued a single and a walk to start the inning before being pulled.Hochevar pitched out of jams effectively for most of the game, allowing the leadoff man to reach in six of seven innings.The Royals overcame an early 2-0 deficit with a four-run rally in the fifth. Butler’s two-out, two-run single put the Royals up 4-2.Butler got his chance when White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen had Melky Cabrera intentionally walked in front of him to load the bases.The White Sox cut the lead to 4-3 in the fifth on Flowers’ first homer. For Flowers, who was playing in his 25th game over the last three seasons, it was also his first career RBI.With two outs and one on in the third, Konerko hit a 1-2 fastball into the left field seats, putting the White Sox up 2-0. It was Konerko’s 27th homer and extended his hitting streak to 10 games.After the Royals fell behind 5-4, they got the first two runners on in the eighth against Crain, but Salvador Perez bounced into an inning-ending double play.NOTES: White Sox C A.J. Pierzynski (bruised left wrist) was out of the lineup Saturday and manager Ozzie Guillen said he doesn’t expect him to play today against Royals LHP Jeff Francis. … Konerko (left knee) said he is close to being able to return to playing defense. Guillen said Wednesday is the earliest he would consider putting Konerko back at first base. Konerko hasn’t played in the field since being hit by a pitch on July 31 against Boston. … Adam Dunn (personal) was not with the team Saturday and Guillen said he won’t play until Tuesday since the lefty Francis takes the hill Sunday and the team is off Monday. … The Royals and White Sox will play the finale of their three-game series on Sunday afternoon. Francis will start for Kansas City against Chicago’s John Danks. Francis has allowed just four earned runs in 12 2/3 innings in two starts against Chicago this season but has ended up with no-decisions in both outings. Danks started the season 0-8 but is 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA in his last eight starts. The ERA is the fourth-lowest in baseball over that span. … Kansas City’s Melky Cabrera went 2 for 3. He’s hitting .400 (60 for 150) since July 2, the best average in the major leagues. … Mike Moustakas went 0 for 4 and fell to 0 for 31 against the White Sox in his first big-league season.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Just when it seemed as if the Chicago White Sox were doomed to play out the string in a losing season, they put together their longest winning streak of the year.

Brent Morel homered and drove in two runs, Carlos Quentin also connected, and the White Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory.

Before the current run, the White Sox were 52-58. They still have a losing record, but are well within striking distance of first-place Detroit in the AL Central.

“We’ve kind of just been waiting for this all year, really,” Morel said. “We have a lot of potential. It’s kind of been a disappointing year, but knowing that we have a little time left to make a push, hopefully we can keep playing well.”

Morel, the No. 9 hitter in the lineup, played a huge part in Chicago’s season-high seventh consecutive road win. In addition to driving in half his team’s runs, the third baseman also made a diving stop of a grounder in the seventh inning with the potential tying run on third.

Gavin Floyd (10-10) gave up three runs in 6 2-3 innings for the White Sox. The Maryland native is 3-0 with a 2.28 ERA lifetime in Baltimore. Coming off a horrid performance against the Yankees in which he surrendered 10 runs in 2 1-3 innings, Floyd improved to 4-1 in his last five starts.

After Floyd left, the bullpen kept Baltimore hitless the rest of the way. Sergio Santos struck out Robert Andino for the final out to earn his 24th save and extend his road scoreless streak to 29 games.

“We knew from the beginning we have a good bullpen, and I feel we have a good starting staff and good lineup also,” Floyd said. “Hopefully we can just come together and go on a little run here.”

After Baltimore scored three runs in the fifth, Floyd ended the inning by retiring Vladimir Guerrero with a runner on second. In the seventh, after Felix Pie hit a leadoff double and advanced on a sacrifice, Morel made a diving stab of J.J. Hardy’s grounder, and former Oriole Will Ohman struck out Nick Markakis.

Making his first start with Baltimore after being obtained on waivers from Toronto, Jo-Jo Reyes (5-9) allowed four runs and five hits in four innings. Both walks he issued came around to score, and he also yielded two home runs.

Chris Jakubauskas followed with four innings of two-hit relief.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter received his second ejection of the season after umpire Phil Cuzzi called Markakis out on the front end of a double steal in the fifth inning. Markakis and third base coach Willie Randolph initially protested the call, and Showalter carried the argument to another level before being tossed by Cuzzi. Replays indicated the runner was safe.

“That was huge,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “I don’t know if he was safe or out but that was huge, when things start going your way, a lot of things happen. We had a break there and we took advantage.”

By losing the first two games of the four-game series, Baltimore will again fail to win its first series since June 24-26. The call at third place hurt, but the Orioles also made several pivotal errors, including a missed tag on a stolen base and Markakis freezing at second on a fourth-inning single by Guerrero.

“We had plenty of opportunities to capitalize, starting with myself,” Markakis said. “You make small mistakes in the game and they come back and bite you in the butt.”

Chicago jumped on top with a two-run second inning. After Quentin led off with his 24th home run, Brent Lillibridge walked with two outs and scored on a single by Morel.

Reyes walked leadoff hitter Alexei Ramirez in the third, then got two outs before A.J. Pierzynski doubled in a run. The hit came after Andino missed a tag on Ramirez during a steal of second base.

In the fourth, the White Sox again scored with two outs, this time when Morel hit a 3-1 pitch into the left-field seats. He has two home runs in 263 at-bats this season.

Held hitless through the first three innings, the Orioles got a leadoff double from Markakis in the fourth. But with runners at the corners, Floyd struck out Chris Davis and Mark Reynolds to end the inning.

Baltimore finally broke through in the fifth. Three straight singles loaded the bases, and Hardy drove in a run with fielder’s choice. Markakis followed with an RBI single, and another run scored when shortstop Ramirez fumbled Adam Jones’ grounder. Then came the ill-fated double steal attempt.

NOTES: Davis returned after missing four straight games with a sore shoulder. … Chicago RHP Philip Humber (8-8) makes his 20th start of the season Wednesday night. He’s 0-4 with a 7.97 ERA in his last four outings. Baltimore will counter with Tommy Hunter, obtained in a trade with Texas on July 30. In his starting debut with the Orioles, Hunter yielded four runs in four innings in a loss to Toronto. … Pierzynski has four hits in the series after coming to town in an 0-for-12 slump.

BALTIMORE  — Just when it seemed as if the Chicago White Sox were doomed to play out the string in a losing season, they put together their longest winning streak of the year.

Brent Morel homered and drove in two runs, Carlos Quentin also connected, and the White Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory.

Before the current run, the White Sox were 52-58. They still have a losing record, but are well within striking distance of first-place Detroit in the AL Central.

“We’ve kind of just been waiting for this all year, really,” Morel said. “We have a lot of potential. It’s kind of been a disappointing year,  but knowing that we have a little time left to make a push, hopefully we can keep playing well.”

Morel, the No. 9 hitter in the lineup, played a huge part in Chicago’s season-high seventh consecutive road win. In addition to driving in half his team’s runs, the third baseman also made a diving stop of a grounder in the seventh inning with the potential tying run on third.

Gavin Floyd (10-10) gave up three runs in 6 2-3 innings for the White Sox. The Maryland native is 3-0 with a 2.28 ERA lifetime in Baltimore. Coming off a horrid performance against the Yankees in which he surrendered 10 runs in 2 1-3 innings, Floyd improved to 4-1 in his last five starts.

After Floyd left, the bullpen kept Baltimore hitless the rest of the way. Sergio Santos struck out Robert Andino for the final out to earn his 24th save and extend his road scoreless streak to 29 games.

“We knew from the beginning we have a good bullpen, and I feel we have a good starting staff and good lineup also,” Floyd said. “Hopefully we can just come together and go on a little run here.”

After Baltimore scored three runs in the fifth, Floyd ended the inning by retiring Vladimir Guerrero with a runner on second. In the seventh, after Felix Pie hit a leadoff double and advanced on a sacrifice, Morel made a diving stab of J.J. Hardy’s grounder, and former Oriole Will Ohman struck out Nick Markakis.

Making his first start with Baltimore after being obtained on waivers from Toronto, Jo-Jo Reyes (5-9) allowed four runs and five hits in four innings. Both walks he issued came around to score, and he also yielded two home runs.

Chris Jakubauskas followed with four innings of two-hit relief.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter received his second ejection of the season after umpire Phil Cuzzi called Markakis out on the front end of a double steal in the fifth inning. Markakis and third base coach Willie Randolph initially protested the call, and Showalter carried the argument to another level before being tossed by Cuzzi.

Replays indicated the runner was safe.

“That was huge,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “I don’t know if he was safe or out but that was huge, when things start going your way, a lot of things happen. We had a break there and we took advantage.”

By losing the first two games of the four-game series, Baltimore will again fail to win its first series since June 24-26. The call at third place hurt, but the Orioles also made several pivotal errors, including a missed tag on a stolen base and Markakis freezing at second on a fourth-inning single by Guerrero.

“We had plenty of opportunities to capitalize, starting with myself,” Markakis said. “You make small mistakes in the game and they come back and bite you in the butt.”

Chicago jumped on top with a two-run second inning. After Quentin led off with his 24th home run, Brent Lillibridge walked with two outs and scored on a single by Morel.

Reyes walked leadoff hitter Alexei Ramirez in the third, then got two outs before A.J. Pierzynski doubled in a run. The hit came after Andino missed a tag on Ramirez during a steal of second base.

In the fourth, the White Sox again scored with two outs, this time when Morel hit a 3-1 pitch into the left-field seats. He has two home runs in 263 at-bats this season.

Held hitless through the first three innings, the Orioles got a leadoff double from Markakis in the fourth. But with runners at the corners, Floyd struck out Chris Davis and Mark Reynolds to end the inning.

Baltimore finally broke through in the fifth. Three straight singles loaded the bases, and Hardy drove in a run with fielder’s choice. Markakis followed with an RBI single, and another run scored when shortstop Ramirez fumbled Adam Jones’ grounder. Then came the ill-fated double steal attempt.

NOTES: Davis returned after missing four straight games with a sore shoulder. … Chicago RHP Philip Humber (8-8) makes his 20th start of the season Wednesday night. He’s 0-4 with a 7.97 ERA in his last four outings. Baltimore will counter with Tommy Hunter, obtained in a trade with Texas on July 30.  In his starting debut with the Orioles, Hunter yielded four runs in four innings in a loss to Toronto. …  Pierzynski has four hits in the series after coming to town in an 0-for-12 slump.

Before the current run, the White Sox were 52-58. They still have a losing record, but are well within striking distance of first-place Detroit in the AL Central.

“We’ve kind of just been waiting for this all year, really,” Morel said. “We have a lot of potential. It’s kind of been a disappointing year, but knowing that we have a little time left to make a push, hopefully we can keep playing well.”

Morel, the No. 9 hitter in the lineup, played a huge part in Chicago’s season-high seventh consecutive road win. In addition to driving in half his team’s runs, the third baseman also made a diving stop of a grounder in the seventh inning with the potential tying run on third.

Gavin Floyd (10-10) gave up three runs in 6 2-3 innings for the White Sox. The Maryland native is 3-0 with a 2.28 ERA lifetime in Baltimore. Coming off a horrid performance against the Yankees in which he surrendered 10 runs in 2 1-3 innings, Floyd improved to 4-1 in his last five starts.

After Floyd left, the bullpen kept Baltimore hitless the rest of the way. Sergio Santos struck out Robert Andino for the final out to earn his 24th save and extend his road scoreless streak to 29 games.

“We knew from the beginning we have a good bullpen, and I feel we have a good starting staff and good lineup also,” Floyd said. “Hopefully we can just come together and go on a little run here.”

After Baltimore scored three runs in the fifth, Floyd ended the inning by retiring Vladimir Guerrero with a runner on second. In the seventh, after Felix Pie hit a leadoff double and advanced on a sacrifice, Morel made a diving stab of J.J. Hardy’s grounder, and former Oriole Will Ohman struck out Nick Markakis.

Making his first start with Baltimore after being obtained on waivers from Toronto, Jo-Jo Reyes (5-9) allowed four runs and five hits in four innings. Both walks he issued came around to score, and he also yielded two home runs.

Chris Jakubauskas followed with four innings of two-hit relief.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter received his second ejection of the season after umpire Phil Cuzzi called Markakis out on the front end of a double steal in the fifth inning. Markakis and third base coach Willie Randolph initially protested the call, and Showalter carried the argument to another level before being tossed by Cuzzi. Replays indicated the runner was safe.

“That was huge,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “I don’t know if he was safe or out but that was huge, when things start going your way, a lot of things happen. We had a break there and we took advantage.”

By losing the first two games of the four-game series, Baltimore will again fail to win its first series since June 24-26. The call at third place hurt, but the Orioles also made several pivotal errors, including a missed tag on a stolen base and Markakis freezing at second on a fourth-inning single by Guerrero.

“We had plenty of opportunities to capitalize, starting with myself,” Markakis said. “You make small mistakes in the game and they come back and bite you in the butt.”

Chicago jumped on top with a two-run second inning. After Quentin led off with his 24th home run, Brent Lillibridge walked with two outs and scored on a single by Morel.

Reyes walked leadoff hitter Alexei Ramirez in the third, then got two outs before A.J. Pierzynski doubled in a run. The hit came after Andino missed a tag on Ramirez during a steal of second base.

In the fourth, the White Sox again scored with two outs, this time when Morel hit a 3-1 pitch into the left-field seats. He has two home runs in 263 at-bats this season.

Held hitless through the first three innings, the Orioles got a leadoff double from Markakis in the fourth. But with runners at the corners, Floyd struck out Chris Davis and Mark Reynolds to end the inning.

Baltimore finally broke through in the fifth. Three straight singles loaded the bases, and Hardy drove in a run with fielder’s choice. Markakis followed with an RBI single, and another run scored when shortstop Ramirez fumbled Adam Jones’ grounder. Then came the ill-fated double steal attempt.

NOTES: Davis returned after missing four straight games with a sore shoulder. … Chicago RHP Philip Humber (8-8) makes his 20th start of the season Wednesday night. He’s 0-4 with a 7.97 ERA in his last four outings. Baltimore will counter with Tommy Hunter, obtained in a trade with Texas on July 30. In his starting debut with the Orioles, Hunter yielded four runs in four innings in a loss to Toronto. … Pierzynski has four hits in the series after coming to town in an 0-for-12 slump.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

MINNEAPOLIS – The sure sign of a slump for the Minnesota Twins? Struggling against the Chicago White Sox.

Jake Peavy won for the first time in more than six weeks with eight shutout innings, and the White Sox beat the Twins 7-0 Sunday to sweep a three-game series in Minnesota for the first time in more than seven years.

Before this weekend, the Twins had won 29 of their previous 36 games against their American League Central rival – including seven of eight this year.

The Twins had more errors (five) than runs (four) over these three games. They drew only one walk.

“To tell you the truth, I’m seeing a team out there that looked flat out there today,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Peavy had a lot to do with that, and that bothers you. Whether they’re beat up from the road trip, tired, I don’t know, but you’ve got no time to be tired. We’re going deeper and deeper in a hole, again. We’ve been there once, and we’re going right back to it.”

After starting the season 17-37, the Twins surged back to life in June – and contention in this underwhelming division – by winning 25 of their next 36 games. Since then, however, they’re 9-14. They’re 10 games behind the Detroit Tigers, still stuck in fourth place.

“We’ve got guys that are winners. I think it’s more frustrating than anything,” said designated hitter Jim Thome. “For years, the Twins, this time of year, have always put themselves in position to make big runs, and it just hasn’t worked the way any of us would have liked.”

Brent Lillibridge, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez and Alex Rios each hit home runs for the White Sox, who went deep only 18 times in July – their fewest that month since 1992. They pulled within 5½ games of the Tigers.

Peavy (5-5) last picked up a victory by pitching four shutout innings in his first career relief appearance, June 25 against the Washington Nationals, three days after he beat the crosstown rival Cubs with a so-so start. The 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner hasn’t been the same since coming to Chicago in a trade with the Padres, but the 30-year-old right-hander was in such a rhythm it looked like his old San Diego form.

“Once he got the lead, he just said, ‘I’m getting ahead of every hitter,’” said Minnesota’s Michael Cuddyer, marveling at the way Peavy used and spotted his cut fastball. Cuddyer added: “They stuck it to us, all three games.”

The power surge from Peavy’s teammates sure helped. The White Sox were averaging barely more than four runs per game when he’s pitched, but little Lillibridge went deep for the second straight day in the second inning and Konerko followed suit in the fourth – both shots to the same section in the second deck above left field off Brian Duensing (8-10).

“You have to tip your hat to them. They hit the ball well,” said Duensing, lamenting that he left many of his sinkers up in the strike zone.

Duensing lasted 6 1-3 innings, but he gave up nine hits – Rios had an RBI double to cap a stretch of three straight extra-base hits that started the fourth – and five runs while walking one and striking out four.

One of those runs was unearned, due to a throwing error by Duensing in that rough fourth inning. He stopped a soft comebacker by Gordon Beckham, but sent his throw well wide of first base, blowing an easy out and prompting Gardenhire to rub his balding head before letting out a big sigh in the dugout. That’s the kind of mistake the Twins have been making lately.

“We’re still trying to do the best we can. It’s just not going our way right now,” said right fielder Jason Kubel.

Given their experience, their accomplishments and their payroll, this team sure seems capable of more.

“That’s the thing I’ve got to find out,” Gardenhire said. “Are we? Will we? You have to do it. We can talk about it all we want. You can throw the names out there all you want, but it has to get done on the field. And we did nothing. So as a manager, yes, I’m sitting here wondering what the hell is going on.”

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