Royals' Lerew picks up 1st win vs. White Sox

[June 29, 2010]  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Anthony Lerew threw six solid innings for his first major league victory, and Billy Butler drove in two runs as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Chicago White Sox 3-1 on Monday night.

The White Sox lost their second straight after an 11-game winning streak ended Sunday. It was just their third defeat in 18 games.

Lerew (1-1), a rookie right-hander making his eighth major league start and 17th appearance, allowed one run and three hits, struck out four and walked one. He helped lead the Royals to their fourth win in five games.

Carlos Quentin's 13th homer in the fourth inning was the only run Lerew allowed.

Chicago's Mark Buehrle, who went 4-0 with a 1.29 ERA in interleague play, lost for the first time since June 1. Buehrle (6-7) allowed three runs on 10 hits and a season-high five walks in 6 1-3 innings. That was the most walks by Buehrle since a career-high six on May 11, 2003.

Buehrle threw 35 pitches in the Royals' two-run first, walking two and giving up three hits. Butler's single scored Jason Kendall, and Mike Aviles drove in David DeJesus with a two-out single. Aviles and Willie Bloomquist each had three hits.

Butler's two-out single in the second scored Kendall, giving the Royals a 3-0 lead.

Royals relievers Victor Marte, Robinson Tejeda and Joakim Soria, who earned his 19th save in 21 opportunities, preserved the lead for Lerew with three scoreless innings.

The White Sox loaded the bases on an error by Yuniesky Betancourt, a walk and a hit batter with one out in the ninth, but failed to score. Soria retired pinch-hitter Mark Kotsay and Alexei Ramirez on infield popups to Aviles.

Jose Guillen went 0 for 3 and walked, ending his career-high 21-game hitting streak, which was the longest by a Royals hitter since Rey Sanchez hit in 21 straight in 2001.

NOTES: First base umpire Alfonso Marquez left in the fifth inning with symptoms of heat distress and shortness of breath and was taken to St. Luke's hospital for evaluation. ... Juan Pierre made his eighth start as the White Sox designated hitter, while Andruw Jones started in left. Jones went 0 for 3 and is 3 for 40 in his past 18 games. Kansas City's bullpen has allowed one run in 17 2-3 innings in the past seven games.

[Associated Press]

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