Buehrle dominates in Sox 4-1 win over Royals
With Mark Buehrle pitching at Kansas City on Thursday, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen had a feeling it was going to be another good night.
"When you've got Bur on the mound, you always have a chance to have a good game," Guillen told reporters after the Sox beat the Royals 4-1.
The 30-year-old lefty was a little rough early, but Buehrle took advantage of two early baserunning blunders and took a shutout into the ninth inning.
Buehrle (8-2) lost it with one out, but he delivered yet another outstanding outing while improving his career record against Kansas City to 20-8.
"Early in the game, I was worried about the way he was throwing," Guillen said. "But the two double plays helped. I wanted him to get a shutout, but it was nice because Bobby (Jenks) got to pitch for the first time in five days."
Jenks got the final two outs to nail down his 19th save in 21 opportunities, and the White Sox (41-38) won their sixth straight while going 3 games over .500 for the first time this season.
The Royals ran into a double play in the first inning when Willie Bloomquist singled but was doubled off first base on Billy Butler's flyball out to center fielder Brian Anderson.
In the second inning, Mark Teahen singled with one out and was doubled off first when Miguel Olivo flied out to right fielder Jermaine Dye.
Leading off the fourth inning, Jayson Nix put the Sox in front with a home run off Kansas City starter Bruce Chen (0-2).
Nix was filling in at shortstop for Alexei Ramirez, who sat out with a sore right middle finger. X-rays were negative, but Ramirez might be out a few more games.
The versatile Nix was 2-for-4, raising his average to .244.
"He got a big hit," Guillen said of Nix's home run. "You make a mistake, that kid can hit it a long way. Every time we play him, he gives you good at-bats. He fights."
In the seventh inning, Jim Thome led off with a double and went to third on Paul Konerko's single. A.J. Pierzynski grounded into a double play, scoring Thome.
Scott Podsednik had an RBI single in the eighth inning and Gordon Beckham drove in the final run in the ninth.
"Overall, we got big hits," Guillen said. "Chen pitched really good, but we got a couple of runs late in the game and they were big."
Scot Gregor's game tracker
White Sox 4, Royals 1
Thursday's grade: A. There have been a lot of these during the Sox' five-game winning streak.
On the Mark: Starter Mark Buehrle was working on a complete game shutout before yielding a run with one out in the ninth. Buehrle won his 20th career game vs. K.C.
Start and stop: Over the last 20 games, White Sox starting pitchers have allowed just 37 earned runs over 1312/3 innings (2.53 ERA).
On tap: John Danks draws a tough opponent tonight in Royals ace Zack Greinke, but the Sox' lefty has a 1.91 ERA over his last 4 starts.