Royals rout ChiSox in game featuring 5 ejections

[August 04, 2008]  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Mike Aviles went 4-for-4 with a home run, Zack Greinke pitched well into the seventh inning, and the Kansas City Royals defeated the Chicago White Sox 14-3 on Sunday in a game featuring five ejections.

There was a bench-clearing brawl in the fifth inning when Royals catcher Miguel Olivo was hit by a pitch from D.J. Carrasco and charged the mound. Olivo, Carrasco and White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen were sent to the clubhouse once order was restored.

Greinke (9-7) held the White Sox to three hits and no runs the first six innings, then allowed two runs in the seventh before hitting Nick Swisher with a pitch. Greinke was ejected along with Royals manager Trey Hillman.

Greinke, who lost July 18 at Chicago when he allowed seven runs on 11 hits in three innings, struck out six without a walk in 6 1-3 innings.

Aviles' four-hit game matched his career high and raised his average to .340. It was his third four-hit game in 52 games since a May 29 promotion from Triple-A Omaha.

The loss dropped the White Sox from first place for the first time since May 16. Their 19th loss in 28 road games set them back a half-game behind Minnesota in the AL Central, after the Twins defeated the Cleveland Indians.

The Royals collected 19 hits, a season high, in each of the final two games of this series. Every Royal starter except Esteban German had a hit.

Olivo contributed a two-run double in the second and had three RBIs. Billy Butler had three hits and drove in two runs. Jose Guillen had two hits, including his team-leading 16th home run and second in as many games. And youngster Mitch Maier also had three hits, matching his career high.

Carrasco was just brought in from the bullpen in the fifth inning to replace starter Clayton Richard when he threw a pitch high and tight to Olivo. He ducked out of the way and the ball struck his bat for a foul.

On the ensuing pitch, Carrasco hit Olivo and the Royals' catcher charged the mound. Olivo pulled up as if he was ready to punch Carrasco, a former Royals pitcher, when White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski grabbed him from behind. Olivo instead hit Pierzynski in the head, and by then both dugouts and bullpens had rushed the field.

Richard, who was making his third big league start, gave up nine runs, six earned, on 11 hits in 4 1-3 innings, his ERA ballooning to 10.38.

Dewayne Wise's triple in the seventh scored Brian Anderson with the first White Six run. A.J. Pierzynski added a home run in the eighth off Robinson Tejeda.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.