White Sox beat Royals 7-4 for 3-game sweep

[June 01, 2009]  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Chris Getz hit a tiebreaking two-run single off Juan Cruz in the ninth inning, and the Chicago White Sox rallied past the Royals 7-4 on Sunday for their first three-game sweep in Kansas City since 2005.

The Royals bullpen squandered another respectable start by Zack Greinke, who had been only the third pitcher since 1920 with a sub-1.00 ERA 10 starts into a season.

John Bale (0-1) came in with one out in the ninth and gave up A.J. Pierzynski's third hit, a single just inches fair into left, and walked Brian Anderson. After Cruz walked Josh Fields, Getz singled into right. He scored on a single by Scott Podsednik, who also doubled, tripled and scored twice as the White Sox completed a 5-1 road trip.

Matt Thornton (2-1) pitched 1 2-3 innings of hitless relief for the win and Bobby Jenks worked the ninth for his 12th save in 13 chances. The Royals lost for the 16th time in 21 games.

Miguel Olivo's RBI single put Greinke on top 4-1 in the third, but the Royals could not hold the lead. He went seven innings and his record stayed at 8-1 with his second no-decision.

Greinke struck out seven and did not allow a walk while giving up a season-high four runs -- three earned -- which pushed his ERA from 0.84 to 1.10.

Chicago starter John Danks had allowed only one earned run in 16 consecutive innings in Kansas City until Mark Teahen and Olivo singled and David DeJesus hit a two-run double in the second. DeJesus scored when shortstop Ramirez got turned around and appeared to lose Mitch Maier's pop RBI double in the sun.

Podsednik tripled leading off the first and scored the eighth earned run Greinke had allowed in 11 starts on Jim Thome's single.

Josh Fields made it 4-3 with a two-run single in the fourth and then Podsednik doubled in the fifth and tied it 4-all when Jermaine Dye dropped an RBI single in front of DeJesus in left.

Danks went 5 1-3 innings and gave up four runs on nine hits.

Notes: KC catcher John Buck went on the 15-day DL with a herniation and spasms in his lower back. He was preparing to bat in the third inning on Saturday when he suddenly went to his knees in pain and had to be helped down the dugout steps. ...Greinke stretched his homerless inning streak dating back to 2008 to 110, the longest since Kevin Brown went 118 consecutive innings from Aug. 24, 1996, to May 20, 1997. ... The White Sox headed home for a season-long 11-game homestand.

[Associated Press; By DOUG TUCKER]

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