White Sox get just enough of everything to take second straight over Royals

Pitching, hitting and defense—the White Sox did just enough of all three to beat the Royals 7-6 for their second-straight victory over their divisional foes.

Offensively, the top of the order consistently got on base, as Gordon Beckham and Conor Gillaspie collected a combined six hits and scored four runs.  Each of them scored on Adam Dunn’s three-run home run in the eighth inning, which extended the White Sox lead at the time to 7-2.

Andre Rienzo had a quality start, allowing only two earned runs on five hits in six innings.  Rienzo also struck out eight, while walking just two Royals hitters.  The outing brought Rienzo’s season ERA down to 4.00 and raised his record to an unblemished 4-0.

Young phenom Yordano Ventura pitched for the Royals and the four earned runs he gave up over six innings matches his season-high.  Ventura allowed seven hits, while only striking three White Sox hitters.

“Fresh” off a two-inning appearance last night, Zach Putnam pitched out of a jam in the eighth inning to help preserve a two-run lead going into the ninth inning.

Putnam was helped out on a spectacular defensive play from Alexei Ramirez, who robbed Norichika Aoki of an RBI single.  Ramirez threw out Aoki from his knees on a ground ball in the hole.

The dramatic anticipation of who would be the White Sox closer after Matt Lindstrom was placed on the 15-day disabled list lasted only one night as Ronald Belisario struck out Lorenzo Cain with the tying run on second base to preserve the one-run victory.

The White Sox go for the sweep tomorrow and a chance to return to breakeven on the season when Jose Quintana opposes Jeremy Guthrie at 7:10 PM.