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KANSAS CITY, Mo.(AP) With a 4-1 lead and
Zack Greinke
on the mound, the
Kansas City Royals
felt relaxed and confident.
Next time, they'll know better.
Chris Getz
completed a Chicago comeback with a tiebreaking two-run single off
Juan Cruz
in the ninth inning Sunday, and the
White Sox
rallied for a 7-4 victory and their first three-game sweep in Kansas City since 2005.
''As soon as you start thinking you've got the game in hand, things change,'' said Royals center fielder
Willie Bloomquist
. ''Zack's human. He's not going to throw a shutout every time. We've got to continue to get him runs and keep piling on when
we get a lead.''
Greinke, going for his major league-leading ninth win, went seven innings and gave up eight hits in what would be a decent
outing for most major league pitchers but was easily his worst.
''When you're down 3-1 with Greinke pitching, most teams would say, 'We've already won the series, let's pack it in and go
to Chicago,''' said manager
Ozzie Guillen
. ''But we didn't. We battled. That's what we've been doing lately.''
Scott Podsednik
singled, double and tripled and scored two runs and A.J. Pierzynski was 2 for 3 against Greinke, whose record stayed at 8-1
while he gave up four runs, three earned, and struck out seven. His ERA crept up from 0.84 to 1.10.
''Podsednik - if I could get him out, it would be a lot better,'' said Greinke, who had trouble with his usually reliable
slider.
''He always does that to me.''
Pierzynski was 3 for 4 for the day and got the ninth inning rally started with a single off
John Bale
(0-1).
''I've thrown him everything,'' said Greinke. ''He's hit everything. You get two strikes and he fights off good pitches. I
used to think he was just a bloop hit guy. He's a little better than that.''
Bale came in with one out in the ninth and gave up Pierzynski's single just inches fair into left, and walked
Brian Anderson
. After Cruz walked
Josh Fields
, Getz singled into right. He scored on Podsednik's single.
Matt Thornton
(2-1) pitched 1 2-3 innings of hitless relief for the win and
Bobby Jenks
worked the ninth for his 12th save in 13 chances as KC lost for the 16th time in 21 games.
''Anytime you face a pitcher like Greinke, you know it's going to be a really good battle,'' said Thornton. ''Our offense
did a good job top to bottom. He's a great pitcher and to score four runs on him is huge for us.''
Chicago starter
John Danks
had allowed only one earned run in 16 consecutive innings in Kansas City until
Mark Teahen
and Olivo singled and
David DeJesus
hit a two-run double in the second. DeJesus scored when shortstop
Alexei Ramirez
got turned around and appeared to lose
Mitch Maier
's pop RBI double in the sun.
Miguel Olivo
's RBI single put Greinke on top 4-1 in the third.
Josh Fields
made it 4-3 with a two-run single in the fourth and then Podsednik doubled in the fifth and tied it 4-all when
Jermaine Dye
dropped an RBI single in front of DeJesus in left.
Notes: KC catcher
John Buck
went on the 15-day DL with a herniation and spasms in his lower back. He was preparing to bat in the third inning on Saturday
when he suddenly went to his knees in pain and had to be helped down the dugout steps. ...Greinke stretched his homerless
inning streak dating back to 2008 to 110, the longest since
Kevin Brown
went 118 consecutive innings from Aug. 24, 1996, to May 20, 1997. ... The
White Sox
headed home for a season-long 11-game homestand.
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