The Kansas City Royals sent their best pitcher to the mound and they lost just the same. The Chicago White Sox topped the Royals 7-4 at Kauffman Stadium, disappointing many of the 19,855 in attendance and allowing the Sox to sweep the weekend series.
Starter Zack Greinke pitched 7 innings, leaving with the score tied, getting no decision. On the day he allowed 4 runs, 3 of them earned, on 8 hits, striking out 7 batters, and allowing no walks. Greinke’s earned run average now stands at 1.10.
The White Sox got to Greinke in the 1st inning as lead off batter Scott Podsednik tripled and came home on a Jim Thome single to give Chicago the early 1-0 lead.
Kansas City jumped into the lead in the 2nd as Mark Teahen and Miguel Olivo, each of whom had singled, scored on a David DeJesus double. DeJesus then crossed the plate on Mitch Maier’s two out, pop fly behind second that was lost in the sun and dropped to the ground for a double. The Royals led 3-1 after 2.
KC made it 4-1 in the 3rd as Olivo stroked a single to left field to bring home Mike Jacobs who had led off the inning with a double.
Chicago closed the gap in the 4th as Thome, who had singled, and A.J. Pierzynski, who had doubled, scored on a Josh Fields single to make it 4-3 for KC.
The White Sox tied the score at 4 in the 5th as Podsednik doubled and scored on a Jermaine Dye single.
Kansas City failed to take advantage of its opportunites the rest of the way, but Chicago cashed in on Royal pitching problems in the 9th to score 3 runs with Chris Gets getting a bases loaded single to drive in a pair of runs. Getz then scored on a Podsednik hit to make the score Chicago 7, Kansas City 4. That’s how it ended.
Matt Thornton (2-1) got the win while Bobby Jenks earned his 12th save. John Bale (0-1) took the loss. The Royals record on the season is now 23-27.
Download/Listen: Zack Greinke’s post game comments (4:00 MP3)