Ramirez's grand slam lifts White Sox

[September 20, 2008]  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Alexei Ramirez hit a grand slam, Dewayne Wise homered twice and Mark Buehrle pitched six effective innings as the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 9-4 on Friday night.

The victory, coupled with Minnesota's 11-1 loss at Tampa Bay, gave the White Sox a 2 1/2-game lead over the Twins in the American League Central. The loss snapped the Royals' seven-game winning streak, their longest since starting the 2003 season 9-0.

The White Sox sent 10 men to the plate in a six-run fourth inning, scoring all the runs with two outs.

Jermaine Dye doubled, Jim Thome singled and A.J. Pierzynski walked before Ramirez tied an AL rookie record with his third grand slam. Shane Spencer hit three grand slams as a rookie for the New York Yankees in 1998. It was Chicago's 11th grand slam this season, tying the club record set in 2006.

Thome hit his 33rd homer in the fifth off Royals starter Brian Bannister (8-16).

Buehrle (14-11), working on three days' rest, gave up three runs and six hits.

 [Associated Press]

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