Duffy fans 9, stymies White Sox 9-1
Danny Duffy matched a career high with nine strikeouts, and the Kansas City Royals extended their winning streak to six with a 9-1 victory over the White Sox on Saturday.
Duffy (4-5) scattered five hits over seven-plus shutout innings for Kansas City.
Mike Moustakas homered among his three hits as the Royals won their second straight in this weekend series.
The Royals scored five times in the fourth — four with none out — to chase Chicago starter Hector Noesi (3-5).
Noesi allowed five runs — two earned — and eight hits while walking one and striking out four.
Duffy last struck out nine on June 19, 2011, at St. Louis. He's now 2-0 against Chicago.
The left-hander was chased in the eighth inning after a leadoff single by Adam Eaton.
White Sox designated hitter Paul Konerko spoiled the shutout with a homer off Michael Mariotoff to open the ninth.
Center fielder Lorenzo Cain drove home Kansas City's first two runs, grounding to third on a fielder's choice as Leury Garcia bobbled the ball and Billy Butler scored from third base and Alex Gordon from second.
Moustakas' single to shallow center drove in Salvador Perez while Escobar's base hit extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games and loaded the bases for the second time in the inning.
The Royals' fourth run came on Nori Aoki's double play grounder. Omar Infante lined a two-out single to left, driving in Moustakas for a 5-0 lead.
Noesi departed in favor of right-hander reliever Javy Guerra with two outs in the fourth.
Moustakas' eight-inning homer was his sixth of the season. He finished with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Eric Hosmer had an RBI double to left to start a three-run ninth. Butler's one-out homer to right made it 9-0.
Despite giving up an eighth inning single to Eaton, Duffy's shutout was preserved after Eaton was thrown out at home on a throw by Aoki in a play overturned following a review.
In Duffy's previous start in Chicago, on May 13, 2012, he injured his elbow in the first inning. The injury required Tommy John surgery which resulted in nearly a year-long layoff.