Chen chops down Sox; Giants top Cards
|
|
| Kansas City's Eric Hosmer tries to break up a double play as Chicago's Alexei Ramirez throws to first during the second inning of the White Sox's 5-2 loss to the Royals on Tuesday in Chicago. (AP) |
| Buy Sauk Valley Media Photos » |
Bruce Chen outpitched Jake Peavy for his first win in 6 weeks, Billy
Butler hit his career-high 22nd homer, and the Kansas City Royals
beat the White Sox 5-2 on Tuesday night in
Chicago.
The White Sox had won 10 of 13 but saw their lead over Detroit in the AL Central shrink to a half-game with the Tigers beating the New York Yankees 6-5 earlier in the night.
Gordon Beckham hit his first career leadoff homer for Chicago, and the White Sox scored again in the sixth after Kansas City tied it in the top half. But RBI singles by Tony Abreu and Alex Gordon off Peavy (9-8) in the seventh gave Kansas City a 3-2 lead.
Butler added to it in the eighth with a two-run drive off Nate Jones after Mike Moustakas walked, and the Royals hung on from there, giving Chen (8-9) his first win since June 26.
The left-hander gave up two runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings and finally came out on top after going 0-3 in his previous seven starts. Greg Holland retired the side in the ninth for his
second save in four chances.
Peavy also gave up seven hits in 6 2/3 innings, but was a tough-luck loser after beating Minnesota in his previous two starts. He found his control after walking the game’s first two batters, issuing just one the rest of the way, but he couldn’t protect the lead after the White Sox went up 2-1.
The Royals had runners on first and third with one out in the seventh after Jeff Francoeur reached on a bunt down the third-base line and Eric Hosmer singled. Abreu tied it with a single to left, and although Hosmer got thrown out at third by Dayan
Viciedo, the Royals weren’t finished.
Jarrod Dyson just beat out a single to second after Beckham made a diving stop on his grounder, and Gordon then chased Peavy with a single to center that made it 3-2.
Things were looking good for the White Sox in the early going.
Beckham gave them the early lead with his drive to left center in the first, after delivering the tiebreaking solo shot the previous night. He now has 11 homers, and the recent power surge ended a drought that dated to June 20.
The Royals finally got a run in the sixth when Gordon singled and scored on Moustakas’ sacrifice fly. Dunn put the White Sox ahead with an RBI single in the bottom half before Kansas City regained the lead.
Giants 4, Cardinals 2: Buster Posey continued his second-half tear with a three-run homer, Barry Zito pitched 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball, and the San Francisco Giants defeated the Cardinals in St. Louis.
Posey leads the major leagues with a .448 batting average and 30 RBIs since the All-Star break, including 12 in his last six games. The home run extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
Joaquin Arias drove in the Giants’ other run with an RBI double. Melky Cabrera also doubled for San Francisco, giving him a big league-leading 152 hits.
Zito (9-8) allowed two solo home runs by Allen Craig. He gave up eight hits overall with four strikeouts and no walks. Jeremy Affeldt got the last four outs for his third save in four chances.
Cardinals starter Lance Lynn (13-5) allowed four runs and eight hits with two walks and six strikeouts in six innings.
Cubs at Padres, late: The Cubs were losing 7-4 after 7 innings at San Diego at press time.
