By Matthew Hays

– Staff Writer

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Sep 18, 2011 – All good things must end.

The seven game winning streak of the Kansas City Royals has now been swept under the rug as the Chicago White Sox held off a sweep, doubling up on the Royals 10-5 Sunday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.

Chicago got off to a solid start, taking a 4-0 lead on the Royals by the middle of the fourth inning. Royals starter Bruce Chen labored through 5.1 innings in his start, allowing four runs on nine hits. He threw 98 pitches before giving way to Louis Coleman and the bullpen.

Kansas City finally mustered some runs of their own in the fifth inning when Yamaico Navarro singled to score Mike Moustakas, and then Billy Butler grounded into a fielder’s choice to score catcher Brayan Pena.

Kansas City would draw even closer in the sixth inning against White Sox starter John Danks, as Jeff Francoeur reached on a Gordon Beckham error. Francoeur would then steal second and score on a Johnny Giavotella triple. After a Moustakas ground out, Giavotella would be thrown out at the plate on a Pena fielder’s choice ground ball.

Danks moved his mark to 7-12 as he threw six innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on 10 hits. Chen fell to 11-8 overall with the loss.

Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski would hit back-to-back solo home runs in the seventh off Coleman to stretch the Chicago lead back to 6-3. Pierzynski would again go deep in the next inning, this time a three-run shot off Jesse Chavez to ultimately put the game out of reach.

Chavez allowed four runs on three hits in one inning pitched. He’d also walked two, while striking out three. 

Kansas City scored once in the bottom of the ninth on a Giavotella infield single, scoring Eric Hosmer.

The Royals and White Sox both had 15 hits on the day, but Kansas City was ineffective at bringing runners around to score. Hosmer and Giavotella lead the team with three hits each on the day.

Kansas City falls to 67-87 overall and has an off day on Monday before taking on the American League Central Division Champion Detroit Tigers at The K for a brief two game series. It’s the last home series of the year. Luis Mendoza will get his first start of the year Tuesday, facing Detroit’s Brad Penny.

Read More: Bruce Chen (P – KAN), Paul Konerko (1B – CWS), John Danks (P – CWS), Billy Butler (DH – KAN), A.J. Pierzynski (C – CWS), Jeff Francoeur (RF – KAN), Brayan Pena (C – KAN), Luis Mendoza (P – KAN), Jesse Chavez (P – KAN), Gordon Beckham (2B – CWS), Yamaico Navarro (3B – KAN), Mike Moustakas (3B – KAN), Louis Coleman (P – KAN), Eric Hosmer (1B – KAN), Johnny Giavotella (2B – KAN), Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox

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A.J. Pierzynski homered twice among his four hits and drove in four runs as the Chicago White Sox snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 10-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Paul Konerko and Pierzynski had back-to-back homers leading off the seventh against rookie reliever Louis Coleman. It was Konerko’s 30th home run. Konerko, who also singled home Juan Pierre in the eighth for his 103rd RBI, has reached 30 home runs and 100 RBIs for the fifth time in his career.

The White Sox took an early 4-0 lead in ending the Royals’ seven-game winning streak, Kansas City’s longest run since notching seven in a row Sept. 13-18, 2008.

Pierzynski’s three-run homer off Jesse Chavez in the eighth struck the right-field foul pole. It was Pierzynski’s fourth career multihomer game — the past two have been at Kauffman Stadium, his previous coming July 9, 2010.

Brent Morel’s double in the second scored Pierzynski and Dayan Viciedo, who had both singled.

In the fourth, Adam Dunn doubled home Alex Rios for his first extra-base hit against a left-hander, in his 89th at-bat this season. Dunn stopped at third on Viciedo’s single and scored on Gordon Beckham’s sacrifice fly.

The Royals scored a pair of runs in the fifth with Yamaico Navarro and Billy Butler getting the RBIs. Johnny Giavotella’s triple in the sixth scored Jeff Francoeur, cutting the White Sox lead to 4-3. Giavotella’s third hit in the ninth scored Eric Hosmer.

Hosmer, who had also three hits, had an RBI single in the seventh.

Left-hander John Danks (7-12), who was 0-3 with a 10.91 ERA in his previous three starts allowed 10 hits and four runs in six-plus innings.

Bruce Chen (11-8) took the loss and is 1-3 in four September starts. He allowed four runs on nine hits and two walks in 5 1-3 innings.

NOTES: Beckham, who leads AL second baseman with a .992 fielding percentage, was charged with his second error in 49 games when he mishandled Francoeur’s bouncer in the sixth. Navarro made his first start at shortstop For Royals. He had started five games at third base. Pierre leads the AL with 43 infield hits and 19 bunt hits. The Royals and White Sox are both off Monday. The White Sox play a doubleheader Tuesday at Cleveland and will start Gavin Floyd and Dylan Axelrod. RHP Luis Mendoza, who was the Pacific Coast League pitcher of the year after going 12-5 with a 2.18 ERA for Triple-A Omaha, will start Tuesday against Detroit, the AL Central champions. It will be Mendoza’s first big league start since Aug. 13, 2008, while with Texas.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mike Moustakas hit his third home run in four games and Jeff Francoeur hit a three-run homer and the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 10-3 Saturday night for their seventh straight victory.

The winning streak is the Royals’ longest since winning seven consecutive Sept. 13-18, 2008. The White Sox have lost seven in a row, matching their longest losing streak of the year.

Moustakas, who had three hits, homered in the fifth with Eric Hosmer, who had doubled aboard. Moustakas and Salvador Perez singled in the fourth and both scored on Alcides Esocbar’s triple.

Francoeur hit his 19th home run in the eighth with Melky Cabrera and Hosmer on base.

Perez and Cabrera each contributed three singles to the Royals’ 18-hit attack. Alcides Escobar doubled and tripled and drove in two runs.

Moustakas, Hosmer and Perez, a trio of highly regarded rookies, combined to go 7 for 14 with two RBIs and scored five runs.

Everett Teaford (2-0), a rookie left-hander, has won both of his starts since moving into the rotation after 23 relief appearances.

He held the White Sox to four hits and one run — Alex Rios’ homer to lead off the second — while walking two and striking out four.

In beating Seattle and Chicago, Teaford has allowed one run and seven hits in 11 innings, while walking three and striking out nine.

Teaford pitched out of trouble in the third and fourth innings. He stranded runners at second and third in the third after a Moustakas error and a walk. Teaford retired Gordon Beckham on a fly to center to end the fourth with the bases full.

White Sox rookie right-hander Zack Stewart (2-5), who was acquired in a July 27 trade with Toronto, allowed five runs and 11 hits in five innings. He has given up 18 hits and 11 runs in 10 innings in losing his past two starts.

The White Sox scored two runs in the seventh off Nate Adcock, yet another Royals rookie. Tyler Flowers scored on an Adcock wild pitch, while Brent Morel came home on a Juan Pierre ground out.

Adcock worked the final three innings for his first major league save.

Notes: RHP Luis Mendoza will be promoted from Triple-A Omaha and start Tuesday for the Royals against Detroit. Mendoza went 12-5 with a Pacific Coast League-leading 2.18 ERA. He went 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two playoff starts. Omaha wrapped up the PCL championship Saturday with Lance Zawadski getting four hits and David Lough hitting a two-run HR in an 11-6 victory at Sacramento to sweep the series. … Royals closer Joakim Soria remains sidelined with a strained right hamstring, which he injured Sunday. … White Sox DH Adam Dunn is 4 for 87 against left-handed pitching after a fourth-inning single off Teaford. … LHP John Danks, who is 0-3 with a 10.91 ERA in his past three starts, will start Sunday for the White Sox. … LHP Bruce Chen, who struck out eight and held Minnesota to two hits in eight scoreless innings in winning his previous start, will be the Kansas City starter in the finale of this four-game series.

Moustakas, who had three hits, homered in the fifth with Eric Hosmer, who had doubled aboard. Moustakas and Salvador Perez singled in the fourth and both scored on Alcides Esocbar’s triple.

Francoeur hit his 19th home run in the eighth with Melky Cabrera and Hosmer on base.

Perez and Cabrera each contributed three singles to the Royals’ 18-hit attack. Alcides Escobar doubled and tripled and drove in two runs.

Moustakas, Hosmer and Perez, a trio of highly regarded rookies, combined to go 7 for 14 with two RBIs and scored five runs.

Everett Teaford (2-0), a rookie left-hander, has won both of his starts since moving into the rotation after 23 relief appearances.

He held the White Sox to four hits and one run — Alex Rios’ homer to lead off the second — while walking two and striking out four.

In beating Seattle and Chicago, Teaford has allowed one run and seven hits in 11 innings, while walking three and striking out nine.

Teaford pitched out of trouble in the third and fourth innings. He stranded runners at second and third in the third after a Moustakas error and a walk. Teaford retired Gordon Beckham on a fly to center to end the fourth with the bases full.

White Sox rookie right-hander Zack Stewart (2-5), who was acquired in a July 27 trade with Toronto, allowed five runs and 11 hits in five innings. He has given up 18 hits and 11 runs in 10 innings in losing his past two starts.

The White Sox scored two runs in the seventh off Nate Adcock, yet another Royals rookie. Tyler Flowers scored on an Adcock wild pitch, while Brent Morel came home on a Juan Pierre ground out.

Adcock worked the final three innings for his first major league save.

Notes: RHP Luis Mendoza will be promoted from Triple-A Omaha and start Tuesday for the Royals against Detroit. Mendoza went 12-5 with a Pacific Coast League-leading 2.18 ERA. He went 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two playoff starts. Omaha wrapped up the PCL championship Saturday with Lance Zawadski getting four hits and David Lough hitting a two-run HR in an 11-6 victory at Sacramento to sweep the series. … Royals closer Joakim Soria remains sidelined with a strained right hamstring, which he injured Sunday. … White Sox DH Adam Dunn is 4 for 87 against left-handed pitching after a fourth-inning single off Teaford. … LHP John Danks, who is 0-3 with a 10.91 ERA in his past three starts, will start Sunday for the White Sox. … LHP Bruce Chen, who struck out eight and held Minnesota to two hits in eight scoreless innings in winning his previous start, will be the Kansas City starter in the finale of this four-game series.

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

By The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Lonnie Chisenhall hit a pair of two-run homers and the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 8-4 on Friday night.

Chisenhall, Cleveland’s rookie third baseman, set career highs with his two homers and four RBIs and the Indians snapped a four-game losing streak.

Ezequiel Carrera, Kosuke Fukudome, Shelley Duncan and Lou Marson had two hits apiece for the Indians. Carrera and Fukudome each drove in two runs.

Jeanmar Gomez (3-2) allowed two runs and six hits over six innings and improved to 3-0 with a 0.52 ERA in three starts since being recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Aug. 30.

White Sox starter Mark Buehrle (11-8) had his second straight rough outing, allowing seven runs and eight hits over 5 2-3 innings.

After entering the game just 3 for 22 with two homers against lefties this season, Chisenhall homered twice against Buehrle, who has won more games than any other southpaw in baseball over the last decade except for the Yankees’ CC Sabathia.

Chisenhall got the Indians on the board first, launching a first-pitch, drive over the picnic area in right field. The homer snapped a streak of five homerless games by White Sox pitchers.

The rookie third baseman went deep on an 0-2 pitch in the sixth to almost the same area in right, putting Cleveland ahead 4-2. That gave Chisenhall his first two-homer game and his first game with more than two RBIs.

Chisenhall duplicated the feat of his White Sox counterpart, third baseman Brent Morel, who had his first multihomer game in Chicago’s 8-1 win on Thursday night. He’s now hit three homers over his last three games, doubling his season total.

The Indians’ tacked on three more runs in the decisive five-run sixth. Carrera singled in a run, chasing Buehrle. Fukudome then singled in two runs off reliever Will Ohman, with both runs charged to Chicago’s starter. Continued…

Buehrle gave up seven earned runs for the second straight start after giving up four runs or fewer each of his 21 previous starts.

In the third, Juan Pierre doubled home Gordon Beckham and scored on Paul Konerko’s sacrifice fly, drawing the White Sox even at 2-all.

Beckham had two hits and scored two runs for the White Sox.

Notes

* The Indians recalled 1B Matt LaPorta from Triple-A Columbus on Friday. LaPorta started 87 games for Cleveland this season before being optioned to Columbus on Aug. 30.

* The White Sox placed utility player Brent Lillibridge on the 15-day disabled list because of a fractured fifth metacarpal in his right hand, suffered when he was hit by a pitch on Thursday. Lillibridge is out for the season.

* Cleveland’s Fausto Carmona (6-14) will take the hill on Saturday, looking to improve on the 10.47 ERA he’s posted in three starts against Chicago this season. He’ll oppose Phil Humber, who threw seven scoreless innings against Minnesota in his last start, his first after coming off the disabled list.

By The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Lonnie Chisenhall hit a pair of two-run homers and the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 8-4 on Friday night.

Chisenhall, Cleveland’s rookie third baseman, set career highs with his two homers and four RBIs and the Indians snapped a four-game losing streak.

Ezequiel Carrera, Kosuke Fukudome, Shelley Duncan and Lou Marson had two hits apiece for the Indians. Carrera and Fukudome each drove in two runs.

Jeanmar Gomez (3-2) allowed two runs and six hits over six innings and improved to 3-0 with a 0.52 ERA in three starts since being recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Aug. 30.

White Sox starter Mark Buehrle (11-8) had his second straight rough outing, allowing seven runs and eight hits over 5 2-3 innings.

After entering the game just 3 for 22 with two homers against lefties this season, Chisenhall homered twice against Buehrle, who has won more games than any other southpaw in baseball over the last decade except for the Yankees’ CC Sabathia.

Chisenhall got the Indians on the board first, launching a first-pitch, drive over the picnic area in right field. The homer snapped a streak of five homerless games by White Sox pitchers.

The rookie third baseman went deep on an 0-2 pitch in the sixth to almost the same area in right, putting Cleveland ahead 4-2. That gave Chisenhall his first two-homer game and his first game with more than two RBIs.

Chisenhall duplicated the feat of his White Sox counterpart, third baseman Brent Morel, who had his first multihomer game in Chicago’s 8-1 win on Thursday night. He’s now hit three homers over his last three games, doubling his season total.

The Indians’ tacked on three more runs in the decisive five-run sixth. Carrera singled in a run, chasing Buehrle. Fukudome then singled in two runs off reliever Will Ohman, with both runs charged to Chicago’s starter.

Buehrle gave up seven earned runs for the second straight start after giving up four runs or fewer each of his 21 previous starts.

In the third, Juan Pierre doubled home Gordon Beckham and scored on Paul Konerko’s sacrifice fly, drawing the White Sox even at 2-all.

Beckham had two hits and scored two runs for the White Sox.

Notes

* The Indians recalled 1B Matt LaPorta from Triple-A Columbus on Friday. LaPorta started 87 games for Cleveland this season before being optioned to Columbus on Aug. 30.

* The White Sox placed utility player Brent Lillibridge on the 15-day disabled list because of a fractured fifth metacarpal in his right hand, suffered when he was hit by a pitch on Thursday. Lillibridge is out for the season.

* Cleveland’s Fausto Carmona (6-14) will take the hill on Saturday, looking to improve on the 10.47 ERA he’s posted in three starts against Chicago this season. He’ll oppose Phil Humber, who threw seven scoreless innings against Minnesota in his last start, his first after coming off the disabled list.