Garcia backed by homers, White Sox beat Royals 9-2

[May 06, 2010]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Freddy Garcia pitched out of several jams to beat Kansas City for the first time in nearly five years, and Andruw Jones and Alex Rios homered Wednesday night, helping the Chicago White Sox to a 9-2 victory over the Royals.

Since last beating the Royals on July 25, 2005, Garcia (1-2) had gone 0-7 with a 7.40 ERA in eight starts against them. He allowed 10 hits in six innings this time but gave up only two runs. He walked none and struck out four.

The 33-year-old right-hander earned his fourth win in 14 starts since rejoining the White Sox last August. Garcia had 40 victories for them from 2004-06 -- including the AL Central clincher in '05, when he went 3-0 with a 2.14 ERA in the postseason to help the franchise to its first World Series title in 88 years.

The White Sox gave him a big lead Wednesday, roughing up Brian Bannister (1-2) for seven runs in three-plus innings.

Bannister, who has an 8.22 ERA in 13 career starts against Chicago, walked Gordon Beckham in the first inning before giving up Jones' homer. It was Jones' 397th career shot, moving him past Joe Carter into 49th place.

Rios doubled with two outs, A.J. Pierzynski walked and Carlos Quentin and Mark Teahen followed with RBI singles to make it 4-0. Quentin entered the game in a 6-for-53 slump while Teahen had been 4 for 28.

Paul Konerko doubled home a run in the second and the White Sox scored twice in the fourth when Jones drew a bases-loaded walk from Bruce Chen and Rios had a sacrifice fly.

Garcia allowed a run in the fifth and another in the sixth but kept the Royals from big innings that would have gotten them back in the game.

After Chris Getz's RBI single put two on with nobody out in the fifth, Garcia retired Willie Bloomquist on a liner and David DeJesus on a grounder and then struck out Scott Podsednik.

Alberto Callaspo's run-scoring single made it 7-2 in the sixth and Jason Kendall followed with a two-out double, but Garcia snagged Getz's line drive to end the inning.

Rios hit a two-run homer off Brad Thompson in the sixth.

NOTES: While the White Sox won only their second series of the season, the Royals have taken just one. ... Chicago's Juan Pierre got his 474th stolen base, tying him with Roberto Alomar for 40th on the career list. ... The Royals called up 1B Kila Ka'aihue from Triple-A Omaha to fill the roster spot created when OF Rick Ankiel (strained quad) went on the disabled list Tuesday. ... Chicago is 42-17 at home against Kansas City since 2004. ... White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen on Konerko, who leads the majors with 12 homers: "Every time this guy's a free agent (to be), the baseball gods help him." Konerko parlayed a huge 2005 season into a five-year, $60 million contract.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.