Moustakas' RBI single lifts Royals over White Sox

[September 10, 2012]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Mike Moustakas stroked a go-ahead single in the 10th inning to lift the Kansas City Royals to a 2-1 win over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

The Royals plated both their runs with two outs in the 10th off Brett Myers (2-3), the seventh of eight White Sox pitchers in the game.

The rally started after Alcides Escobar was thrown out, leaving the bases empty and two outs. Myers walked Billy Butler, who was replaced by pinch runner Jarrod Dyson. Salvador Perez, Moustakas and Jeff Francoeur then hit consecutive singles, the last two driving in runs.

Kelvin Herrera (3-2) got the win after preserving a scoreless tie in the ninth by getting Alex Rios to hit into a double play with the bases loaded.

Greg Holland walked two and gave up Gordon Beckham's RBI double in the 10th, but escaped with his 13th save by striking out Alejandro De Aza and Ray Olmedo with the tying run on third.

One day after the first-place White Sox snapped a six-game losing against Kansas City, the Royals won for the 10th time in 15 games against Chicago this season.

Jeremy Guthrie held Chicago to six hits over eight shutout innings, striking out four, but left with a no-decision. He's thrown 23 2-3 innings against the White Sox this season without allowing an earned run.

Guthrie was trying to win a fifth straight decision for the first time in his career. The Royals have won the last seven games he's taken the mound, during which he's 4-0 with a 1.70 ERA.

Hector Santiago threw four scoreless innings, and four White Sox relievers added five more shutout frames before the Royals broke the deadlock in the 10th. Myers didn't retire any of the four batters he faced.

Chicago entered the game with a two-game lead over Detroit in the AL Central, but helped Guthrie's cause by running into three outs on the bases. Francoeur threw out pinch-runner Alexei Ramirez at third to end the seventh for his big league-leading 18th outfield assist.

Guthrie retired 10 straight batters in one stretch. He took a no-hitter into the eighth inning in his last start against the White Sox, a no-decision in the Royals' 5-2 win on Aug. 19.

Santiago struck out eight in his second major league start after holding Minnesota to one run over five innings on Sept. 3. His first 36 big league appearances this season came in relief.

Johnny Giavotella walked three times and stole two bases for Kansas City.

NOTES: Ramirez was a late scratch from Chicago's starting lineup after arriving late to U.S. Cellular Field. He was replaced by Olmedo, who went 0 for 4 and committed an error. Ramirez leads AL shortstops with 66 RBIs, but he's just 1 for 25 lifetime against Guthrie. ... The White Sox were also without Adam Dunn and Kevin Youkilis for a third straight game. Dunn is considered day-to-day with a strained right oblique, while Youkilis is expected back on Monday after returning home for the birth of his son. ... Chicago opens a key four-game home series against Detroit on Monday. The Tigers have won seven straight against the White Sox and 10 of 14 overall this season. Perez stretched his career-best hitting streak to 14 games with the hit, the longest streak by a Royal this season.

[Associated Press]

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