Kansas City gets 18 hits in 8-2 win over White Sox

Posted September 11, 2010 11:00 pm

By Brian P:itts

Edwin Jackson has been one of the White Sox' most consistent starters since he joined the team July 30 in a trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Entering Saturday's game against the Kansas City Royals, Jackson was 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA in 6 starts.

But unfortunately for Jackson and the Sox, that run ended.

The Royals defeated the White Sox 8-2 before 26,389 at U.S. Cellular Field. The loss dropped the Sox 6 games behind the Minnesota Twins, who defeated the Indians 1-0 on Jim Thome's 12th-inning home run.

Jackson, who surrendered 6 runs on a season-high 12 hits, did not make any excuses.

"I got hit," he said. "Everything you throw up there gets hit, no matter if you are ahead or behind on the count.

"Sometimes the teams with nothing to lose are the hardest challenge. What can you do? You take your bumps and bruises and just move forward."

With only 20 games left, every one is big for the Sox (78-64). After finishing with the Royals on Sunday, they host Minnesota in what will be a make-or-break series starting Tuesday.

"I think it was a very sloppy game," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Jackson, he is in trouble from the beginning. (The Royals) can swing the bat. From the beginning, we could not do anything. We could not get anything going."

Kansas City knocked out 18 hits, with four players having 3 hits apiece.

By contrast, the Sox managed only 8 hits, led by a pair apiece from Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski. In their last five games, the Sox have only scored 10 runs.

The Sox spotted the Royals a 4-0 lead after three innings but got a run back in the bottom of the fourth when Konerko doubled, moved to third on Manny Ramirez's single (his first in a Sox home uniform) and then scored on Alexei Ramirez's roller up the middle.

The Royals then added 4 more runs over the next four innings.

"We fell behind early and tried to fight back," Pierzynski said. "It was one of those games where it seemed like it wasn't meant to be."

Konerko got a run back when he launched his 34th home run in the eighth.

Despite the loss, the attitude in the Sox' clubhouse remained upbeat.

"The confidence in here hasn't gone anywhere," Jackson said. "That's the main thing. There is a lot of baseball left. Anything is possible. As long as the confidence has not gone anywhere, that is all that matters."

Kansas City starter Kyle Davies got the win, allowing only 1 run on 5 hits in 6 innings.

Royals 8, White Sox 2

Hot feet: Shortstop Alex Rios set a new career high for steals when he swiped his 33rd in the first inning. Entering Saturday's game, he ranked eighth in the league. Teammate Juan Pierre leads the league with 54.

Hit parade: The 18 hits the Sox allowed were the most they've given up this season since Texas had 19 in a 9-6 Rangers win June 1.

Approaching milestone: With his solo home run in the eighth inning, Sox slugger Paul Konerko is 1 RBI shy of his fourth 30 homer/100 RBI season.