Butler leads Royals past White Sox

[August 19, 2009]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Billy Butler doubled three times, had two RBIs and scored the go-ahead run on Alberto Callaspo's fifth-inning single as the Kansas City Royals rallied for a 5-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.

In losing to last-place Kansas City for the seventh time this season, the White Sox fell three games behind Detroit in the AL Central. They are still looking for answers at the end of their rotation, with Freddy Garcia failing in his return to the team he helped win the 2005 World Series.

Robinson Tejada pitched three dominant innings of relief and John Buck hit a two-run homer for the Royals, who are 7-7 against the White Sox -- and 40-65 against the rest of the major leagues.

Butler became the first player this season to have three doubles in each of three games. He also did it on July 8 and Aug. 8. He has 41 doubles, second most in the majors.

Garcia (0-1), whose Game 4 victory completed Chicago's '05 Series sweep of Houston, allowed five runs on seven hits in 4 1-3 innings in his season debut. He worked very slowly, repeatedly fell behind batters and topped out at 90 mph.

Injured for most of the last 2 1-2 years after the White Sox traded him to Philadelphia, Garcia rejoined the organization June 8 after the New York Mets cut him.

He is battling Jose Contreras, another member of the stellar 2005 rotation, to be the No. 5 starter when newcomer Jake Peavy comes off the disabled list next week. Contreras, scheduled to start Wednesday's series finale, is 0-4 with a 7.62 ERA in his last six outings.

A.J. Pierzynski's first-inning single put the White Sox up 1-0. After the Royals tied it in the third on Butler's second double, Chicago went ahead 4-1 in the bottom of the inning when Paul Konerko homered and Carlos Quentin added a two-run shot.

Garcia promptly allowed Buck's homer in the fourth to make it 4-3. In the fifth, Willie Bloomquist singled and scored on Butler's third double, chasing Garcia. Reliever Randy Williams gave up Callaspo's RBI single.

Bloomquist, the Royals' right fielder, cut down Chicago's bid for a tying run in the last of the fifth, throwing Quentin out at the plate.

Gil Meche (6-9) labored through five innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and five walks but stranded nine runners to wiggle out of several jams.

Tejada then struck out five while allowing no hits and one walk over the next three innings before Joakim Soria worked a scoreless ninth for his 20th save in 22 opportunities.

NOTES: The White Sox made room for Garcia by placing OF Dewayne Wise on the DL with a shoulder strain. ... Struggling 3B Alex Gordon, a top prospect since the Royals drafted him second overall in 2005, was demoted to Triple-A Omaha. Kansas City activated reliever Kyle Farnsworth from the DL. ... Saying hard-hit RHP Scott Linebrink no longer would be the eighth-inning setup man, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said LHP Matt Thornton would get most such assignments. ... After missing his second straight game with a sore left heel, Chicago DH Jim Thome is expected to play Wednesday.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.