Olivo homers to lift KC past White Sox 6-3

[July 06, 2009]  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Alberto Callaspo got his fourth RBI in two days and Miguel Olivo hit a two-run homer to help the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 6-3 on Sunday for a split of their four-game series.

Callaspo, who had three RBIs in a 6-4 win on Saturday, also cost KC a run with the kind of shaky defense which has led to his collecting 10 errors at second base this year. But Brian Bannister (6-6) held Chicago to five hits and two runs through six innings and snapped a personal four-game losing streak to the White Sox.

Clayton Richard (3-2), who beat Bannister and the Royals 11-2 on May 29, lasted just 3 2-3 innings and gave up four runs and eight hits. Bannister was charged with two runs and five hits, with two walks and two strikeouts. Joakim Soria worked a perfect ninth for the second day in a row and picked up his 12th save in 14 chances.

Willie Bloomquist and David DeJesus each had three hits for the Royals. Bloomquist, after fouling off five two-strike pitches, singled between second and third to bring home Callaspo with the Royals' first run in the third.

Then Brayan Pena's RBI double started a three-run fourth for the Royals, who had lost five in a row to the White Sox before coming from behind to beat them Saturday. Callaspo's RBI single plated Pena and then DeJesus singled for a 4-2 lead. Olivo's team-leading 13th home run put KC ahead 6-2 in the fifth.

Jermaine Dye hit his 20th home run, a 434-foot shot off Jamey Wright in the eighth. In the third, Alexei Ramirez hit a sacrifice fly for the White Sox.

The failure of Callaspo to turn what would have been an inning-ending double play cost the Royals a run in the fourth. He took a short toss from shortstop Bloomquist for the forceout at second. But then he double-pumped before throwing to first and Josh Fields was safe, enabling A.J. Pierzynski to score from third for a 2-1 White Sox lead.

NOTES: The White Sox ended the mathematical halfway point of the season three games above .500 and with a pitching staff that ranked second in the AL with a 3.94 ERA. They were 45-36 after 81 games last year. ... Royals outfielder Coco Crisp disclosed that he's going to have surgery on both his left and right shoulder. He's out for the year.

[Associated Press; By DOUG TUCKER]

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