Sox' bats explode in 8th, but comeback falls short
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - It started out as an expected pitcher's duel between the White Sox' Jake Peavy and the Royals' Zack Greinke.
It certainly didn't end that way.
Peavy lasted just 6 innings against Kansas City on Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium, and the right-hander wasn't feeling too optimistic when he exited trailing 3-1.
"I just didn't have great stuff, I think that was evident from the first inning," Peavy said. "I was mechanically off and my stuff wasn't that good. I made a mechanical adjustment and tried to keep the boys in the game, but quality starts aren't good enough to beat a top-tier guy."
Greinke certainly is that, and he was really looking good after Kansas City added 4 runs off relievers Randy Williams and Tony Pena in the seventh inning to extend the lead to 7-1.
But that's when the game took an unexpected turn.
The Sox sent eight hitters to the plate in the eighth and scored 5 runs on 5 hits to make it a 1-run game. Pinch-hitter Brent Lillibridge's triple with the bases loaded was the key blow.
"It was a blowout, so I got to come in," Lillibridge said. "I really don't have any kind of rhythm up there so I was just looking for a fastball and he threw one right over the middle on the first pitch. I put a good swing on it, and then I really thought we were going to be able to pull it out."
Lillibridge's big hit made it 7-5, and he scored on Alex Rios' groundout to put even more heat on Greinke.
But the defending Cy Young Award winner avoided further damage and turned the game over to closer Joakim Soria in the ninth inning.
Soria was greeted by Mark Kotsay, who hammered a drive to deep right field.
"I thought it was going to land in the fountain," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.
Instead, Kotsay's drive landed in Jose Guillen's glove, and he hung on after slamming into the fence.
"This park plays pretty big," Kotsay said. "You never know off the bat. I hit it pretty well, but (Guillen) made a great play."
The White Sox had won five straight series before dropping 2 of 3 to the Royals.
"I'm kind of happy," Ozzie Guillen said. "Those guys attacked Greinke late in the game very well. But a loss is a loss."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Scot Gregor's game tracker</p>
<p class="News">Royals 7, White Sox 6</p>
<p class="News"><b>Fantastic finish:</b> Booed throughout the game for his lackadaisical defensive play, Kansas City right fielder Jose Guillen made a great catch on Mark Kotsay's deep drive in the ninth inning to help the Royals win the series.</p>
<p class="News"><b>In a pinch:</b> Brent Lillibridge's pinch-hit, 3-run triple off Zack Greinke sparked the Sox' 5-run eighth inning as they rallied from a 7-1 deficit.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Streak's over:</b> Jake Peavy took the loss after allowing 3 runs on 7 hits in 6 innings. Billy Butler's solo home run in the first inning also ended Peavy's scoreless inning streak at 21.</p>
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