Sox' streak hits 2 after 3-1 loss to Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - You can only fly so high in major-league baseball, and the White Sox spread their wings about as wide as possible during an 11-game winning streak that ended Sunday against the Cubs.
The Sox dropped their second straight Monday night, a 3-1 decision to the Royals at Kauffman Stadium, which prompted the obvious question: Are they headed for a nose-dive back to the dark place they inhabited over the first two months of the season?
"Obviously, we weren't going to keep that pace up, and I'm sure we're going to lose a couple and go on a losing streak," said White Sox starter Mark Buehrle. "We just can't let the losing streak go too far."
Even though the Royals are buried in fourth place in the AL Central, they do play in the American League. And all 11 wins during the Sox' longest streak since 1961 came against National League clubs.
Throw in a tough loss against the Cubs on Sunday and it's easier to see why the White Sox looked a little disinterested against K.C. in the series opener.
"We were aware," manager Ozzie Guillen said of the letdown factor. "You play a big series - not a big series, because every series is big for us - but the Cubs-Sox series over the weekend in Chicago, obviously players and people have a tendency to let their emotions and stuff down a little bit.
"But I think we felt the same way in the dugout; no one was different. We just didn't get the big hits."
Actually, Carlos Quentin had a very big hit against Royals starter Anthony Lerew, who earned his first major-league win.
With two outs in the fourth inning, Quentin blasted a 408-foot shot to straightaway center field - his fifth home run in seven games.
But that was it for the White Sox' offense, which came close to pulling out a victory in the ninth inning for the second straight game.
"We had a couple of chances to score some runs," Guillen said. "Late in the game we got a great, great chance to at least tie the game, and we couldn't get the big hit. Both guys (Buehrle, Lerew) pitched well. Their bullpen did a tremendous job; we pitched pretty good. Overall, a pretty good baseball game."
But another disappointing ninth inning.
With closer Joakim Soria on for Kansas City, the Sox loaded the bases with one out.
But Soria wiggled out of the jam, getting pinch hitter Mark Kotsay and Alexei Ramirez on popouts.
The White Sox are 12-16 against division opponents, including 3-4 against the Royals and 4-8 against the last-place Cleveland Indians.
"I wish we were playing our division when we were playing good because those are the teams I want to beat," Guillen said. "I want to beat Detroit, Kansas City, Cleveland and Minnesota.
"Those are the teams I want to compete against. We went through the National League when we were playing good. But if we play the way we played in those 21/2 weeks, we can compete against anybody.
"We've played terrible against Cleveland and Kansas City. That's why we're here where we are. If we played good, we'd be in first place by 7 games."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Scot Gregor's game tracker</p>
<p class="News">Royals 3, White Sox 1</p>
<p class="News"><b>Seems like old times:</b> The Sox loaded the bases with one out against K.C. closer Joakim Soria in the ninth inning. Pinch hitter Mark Kotsay popped out and Alexei Ramirez also popped out to end the game The White Sox were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Wild thing:</b> Starting pitcher Mark Buehrle issued 5 walks, the most since May 11, 2003, when he walked six at Seattle.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Come Monday:</b> After hitting .389 with 4 home runs and 11 RBI, Carlos Quentin was named AL player of the week. Quentin kept his hot streak going, hitting a solo HR off Royals starter Anthony Lerew in the fourth inning.</p>
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