Sox playoff hopes fade as Royals deliver 11-0 shutout

Before the White Sox opened their final homestand of the season Friday night with a game against the Royals, manager Ozzie Guillen presented them with two options during a pregame meeting.

"If we're going to get it done, get it done quick," Guillen said. "Get swept these two series, or we'll fight all the way to the end. I told them that. Hey, that's easy. If you want to quit teasing people, just get swept this series and the next series, then we'll play the next one for fun."

Still reeling from Thursday's 4-3 loss in 14 innings at Seattle, the Sox went out and got hammered by Kansas City 11-0.

Yes, the first-place Tigers lost again, but the White Sox (72-76) appear to have finally offered an official surrender after losing for the fourth time in five games.

Guillen was angry after the marathon loss to the Mariners, but he opted for levity in the wake of Friday's defeat.

"Just write about something," Guillen said. "I know you guys get paid to write something. I think my motivational speech before the game didn't work at all. It was very bad. I wasted maybe 25 minutes of my time to try to motivate those guys."

It was another all-around stinker for the Sox.

After failing to score over the final nine innings at Seattle on Thursday, Royals starter Luke Hochevar (7-10) pitched his first career complete-game shutout while winning for the first time since July 25.

The White Sox had only 3 hits, and Dewayne Wise was the only baserunner to make it to third base.

"I think this kid threw the ball pretty good," Guillen said of Hochevar. "I always give credit to the guy that deserves credit."

Sox starter Mark Buehrle (12-9) allowed 5 runs on 7 hits over 6 innings.

"Today, I was feeling the best I felt since the (July 23) perfect game," Buehrle said. "I don't know if I came out trying to throw too hard instead of worrying about my control, which is my game, but I couldn't locate anything."

Buehrle issued 4 walks, his highest total since June 9, and after reaching 200 innings pitched for the ninth straight season, the workhorse was asked if he'd like to shut it down for the year.

"If they're going to shut me down, that's their call," Buehrle said. "But we have 14 (games) left and it's bad enough not pitching for five days. I'd get bored sitting around for 14 days."

It could have been an exciting 14 days, especially in the wide-open AL Central, but the White Sox are now 19-25 since Aug. 1.

"Obviously, we're not in a good spot," Buehrle said. "But we put ourselves in the spot we're in, and we just have to go out and keep playing hard."

As for the pregame meeting?

"I think (Guillen) got his point across," Buehrle said. "He told us we (stink)."

<p class="factboxheadblack">Gregor's game tracker</p> <p class="News">Royals 11, White Sox 0</p> <p class="News"><b>Mr. 200:</b> Mark Buehrle surpassed the 200-inning mark for the ninth straight season, and he's also won 10 games and made 30 starts over that stretch.</p> <p class="News"><b>Change of pace:</b> After allowing 5 runs on 7 hits and 4 walks over 6 innings, Buehrle lose to Kansas City at home for the first time since Aug. 11, 2004, a span of 12 starts.</p> <p class="News"><b>New faces:</b> Jake Peavy makes his White Sox debut vs. the Royals tonight, and manager Ozzie Guillen said Tyler Flowers will be the Sox' designated hitter.</p> <div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=322655">Peavy ready to make debut<span class="date"> [9/18/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=322656">Rookies' effort pleases Guillen<span class="date"> [9/18/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>