White Sox can't solve Royals' Greinke
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Zack Greinke struck out a career-high 10 and allowed 2 hits in 8 innings, leading the Kansas City Royals over the White Sox 3-0 Thursday.
Greinke (7-6), making his sixth start since rejoining the rotation on Aug. 24, allowed just one runner past first base and became the first Kansas City pitcher to reach double digits in strikeouts since Odalis Perez fanned 10 against Boston on Sept. 8 last year.
Joakim Soria followed with a perfect ninth for his 17th save in 21 chances as Kansas City (66-86) moved back ahead of Chicago (66-67) and out of last place in the AL Central.
Jon Garland (9-13) gave up three and six hits in eight innings. He had been 8-1 with a 2.43 ERA in his previous 11 starts against the Royals.
Garland has a 1.80 ERA in his last four starts overall but is 1-3, with the White Sox totaling three runs in the three losses.
Before a crowd of 10,264, the Royals' third-lowest at home this season, the game was played in 1 hour, 55 minutes - the fastest nine-inning game for Kansas City since May 10, 2005, at Toronto (1:44).
Kansas City broke a 21-inning scoreless streak with a two-run sixth.
John Buck and Tony Pena Jr. hit doubles - the latter on an 0-2 pitch after Pena twice failed to get down a bunt. David DeJesus grounded out, and Esteban German hit a sacrifice fly.
Jerry Owens doubled for Chicago leading off the fourth and Juan Uribe sacrificed, but Jim Thome and Paul Konerko struck out. Uribe singled leading off the seventh.
Notes: Greinke's previous high in strikeouts was eight, set on June 21, 2005, when he lost to Garland and the White Sox.
- Chicago was blanked for the 11th time, second-most in the AL behind Minnesota (13).
- 3B Alex Cintron was a late scratch from the White Sox lineup because of a bruised left hand. He was replaced by Andy Gonzalez, who made his 19th start at third base.
- 3B Alex Gordon was hit by a pitch in the seventh, raising the Royals' total to 85, which leads the majors.
- White Sox 2B Danny Richar went 0-for-3, ending his career-high eight-game hitting streak.