Sox soar with four home runs in a row

Prior to and during Thursday's series finale against Kansas City, the Navy's elite flying team, the Blue Angels, buzzed U.S. Cellular Field time and again in preparation for the Air and Water Show, flaunting their firepower and awing yet another big home crowd.

That was nothing.

The real power display on Thursday came from White Sox hitters in a historic sixth inning where they accomplished what only five teams before have ever done and in the process set a franchise record by blasting back-to-back-to-back-to-back home runs to break open a 1-run game with a power display for the ages that capped off an impressive sweep of the Royals with a 9-2 victory.

Pow! There's Jim Thome getting things started with a pair of runners on and two out, launching a 392-foot shot to right field, his 26th homer of the season.

"We kind of exploded," Thome said. "It was kind of cool to sit back there and watch all that happen."

Thwat! There's Paul Konerko capping a big day at the plate (3 hits) with his 12th homer of the season, a 336-foot shot to left.

"It just kind of happened before we knew it," Konerko said. "It was out of nowhere."

Zam! There's Alexei Ramirez making it three straight with his 11th of the year, a 386-foot blast to left field.

"It's an honor for me, for the team being here that long and just to be part of it," Ramirez said.

And finally, Whack!, there's Juan Uribe adding to the party with his fourth of the season and first in his last 107 at-bats, a 347-foot rope to left.

"I didn't know the home run I hit made history," Uribe said. "I feel real good because Jim started that and Paulie and Alexei ... and it ended with me. I feel real good to be part of that record."

"I've never seen that before," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said of the power display. "It came at the right time."

Three of the homers came off reliever Joel Peralta while the other was given up by Robinson Tejada.

"It hurts," said Royals manager Trey Hillman. "You're seeing it, so you know it's happening."

While the big bats were the big story for the Sox on Thursday, the performance of Lance Broadway, in just his second major-league start, was lost in the shuffle.

The big righty survived a shaky start to get the victory after 5 innings of 2-run ball.

"He did a tremendous job," Guillen said, "more than I expected."

With Minnesota idle Thursday, the win puts the Sox one full game ahead in the AL Central.

"This was a big week for us," Konerko said. "KC killed us over there. They just didn't win games, they beat us up

pretty good."

"I love the way we're fighting," Guillen said. "I love the enthusiasm in the clubhouse, the enthusiasm in the dugout."

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=227755">Ouch! White Sox slugger Quentin plunked again <span class="date">[8/14/08]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=227804">Broadway gives win (and his regards) to White Sox <span class="date">[8/14/08]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=227803">Hall tries, but he can't hit Sox' fifth straight home run<span class="date">[8/14/08]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>