German's double lifts Royals over White Sox 8-7

[July 21, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Esteban German hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the eighth inning to lead the Kansas City Royals to an 8-7 win over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

German was 3-for-3 with two RBIs and Mike Aviles had three hits for the Royals, who have won five of their last seven games.

Joakim Soria got three outs for his 26th save in 28 opportunities and Ramon Ramirez (1-1) pitched 1 1-3 innings for the win.

Jim Thome doubled in the seventh inning for his 2,000th career hit and Joe Crede hit a three-run homer for the White Sox, who have lost five times in seven games. Nick Swisher also hit a two-run homer for the White Sox.

Trailing 6-5, Thome led off the seventh inning with a double off Ramirez. One out later, Swisher hit his 13th home run of the season to put the White Sox up 7-6.

But the White Sox bullpen couldn't hold the lead in the eighth.

Trailing 7-6 with one out in the eighth inning, White Sox reliever Octavio Dotel hit pinch-hitter Jose Guillen on the hand. With two outs, White Sox reliever Matt Thornton (4-2) walked Ross Gload and German followed with a double down the left-field line to give the Royals the lead for good.

The White Sox had a chance to tie the game in the eighth. A.J. Pierzynski tried scoring on Brian Anderson's single to left, but Guillen easily threw him out at the plate.

White Sox starter John Danks came into the game with a 2.67 ERA but he gave up four consecutive hits to start the game, including a two-run single to David DeJesus and Ross Gload to give the Royals a 4-0 lead.

DeJesus had three RBIs.

The White Sox scored two runs in the bottom of the first off Royals starter Brian Bannister. Thome had an RBI single and Bannister hit Swisher with a pitch with the bases loaded.

Crede hit a three-run home run off Bannister in the third inning to tie the game at five. It was his 17th of the season.

Mike Aviles hit an RBI single off White Sox start Danks in fourth inning to give the Royals a 6-5 lead.

Kansas City reliever Horacio Ramirez hit Jermaine Dye with a pitch in the fourth inning. Dye fell to the ground in obvious pain. He was helped off the field by two team trainers.

After Dye was hit, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen threw his towel in disgust before going out to the field to check on Dye. The team said Dye has a bruised right knee. X-rays were negative and he is listed day-to-day.

Dye was also hit by a pitch on Saturday night by Ramirez.

In the top of the fifth inning, Carassco, called up from Triple-A Charlotte before the game, threw an inside pitch on Billy Butler. Home plate umpire Mike Reilly warned both benches which infuriated Guillen, who slammed a water bottle on the ground.

Danks gave up six runs and nine hits in four innings.

Notes: Royals OF Jose Guillen wasn't in the starting lineup for his third straight game with back spasms. ... Before the game, the White Sox placed Jose Contreras on the DL with right elbow tendonitis. ... Before the game, the White Sox honored Harold Baines with a life-sized sculpture on the right field concourse and wore 1983 throwback uniforms. Baines, in his fifth season as a coach with the club, played 14 seasons with the White Sox and had his number retired in 1989.

[Associated Press; By MIKE HARRIS]

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