Sox still gaining momentum

Eventually, the fun is going to have to end for the White Sox.

The schedule says they get to play only two more games before taking three days off for the all-star break.

The work stoppage looks to be the only thing that can slow down the surging Sox.

Getting yet another dominant effort from their starting pitcher, this time Mark Buehrle, the White Sox rolled over the Royals 8-2 Friday night at U.S. Cellular Field.

While remaining a half-game behind the Tigers in the AL Central, the Sox won their sixth straight and are a staggering 23-5 since June 9.

"We're starting to believe it," Buehrle said after pitching 7 shutout innings while beating Kansas City for the first time in 3 starts this season. "I think if we would have said we were going to win that quick and be back in it as quick as we did, I don't think anybody would have believed us. We just want to keep on going."

Buehrle appeared to be on his way out of Friday's game almost as soon as it started.

Scott Podsednik, the first hitter of the game, hit a ball up the middle and it connected with Buehrle's right wrist.

"It got me pretty good," Buehrle said. "I tried not to think about it but I felt it. It feels fine now."

Hit parade: The White Sox got much of their offense from two struggling hitters - A.J. Pierzynski and Andruw Jones.

"Those two guys need it badly, especially A.J," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "A.J has been struggling for the last couple of weeks. We need Andruw because from now on we're going to start to face a lot of lefties. We need him to get hot."

Pierzynski hit a pair of home runs, including a 3-run shot in the eighth inning to break the game open.

Jones, who entered the game in a 2-for-23 slide, went 3-for-4 and had a 2-run single in the second inning.

"When you're used to playing every day it's going to be hard not getting consistent at-bats all the time," Jones said. "But I know my role, when I came here what I was supposed to do. I've just got to take advantage of the chance to play and take advantage of the opportunity."

Jones hasn't been playing much, but he's enjoyed the White Sox' lengthy roll.

"We know what kind of talent we have in the clubhouse, and from the beginning of spring training we knew what we had and we knew what we needed to do," Jones said. "We didn't get off to the start we wanted to, but now we turned it around and it's just going in a good way right now."

Trade talk: Cliff Lee was traded from the Seattle Mariners to the Texas Rangers on Friday, which was good news for the White Sox.

"We don't have to face him," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I think the Rangers, with the offense they have, they know they needed to get some pitching. With that lineup they have, they're very dangerous. I think that's going to help those guys and put them over the top in that division. I was glad, because off the top I thought it was New York or Minnesota (getting Lee)."