While the Chicago White Sox have a slight lead in the AL Central, they continue to struggle against the Kansas City Royals .
The White Sox will try to avoid a fourth straight loss to the host Royals on Saturday night when the teams play the middle contest of a weekend set.
Chicago fell to 4-6 against Kansas City this year after a 4-2 defeat Friday, when Salvador Perez 's two-run double in the seventh inning proved decisive.
Paul Konerko , who returned after missing the previous eight games with a mild concussion, homered for Chicago.
"When you take nine or ten days off it seems like a month, but I felt good," he said.
The White Sox (65-53), who had won three straight overall entering this series, are averaging 2.9 runs in the season series against the Royals (52-66), totaling five runs in the last three games between the clubs. They haven't dropped four in a row to Kansas City since 2009.
With Friday's loss, Chicago's division lead dwindled to 1 1/2 games over second-place Detroit.
The White Sox should like their chances Saturday with Jake Peavy (9-8, 3.04 ERA) on the mound, but they'll need to give him better support.
The right-hander is 3-7 in his last 11 starts. He's allowed three runs or fewer in eight of those games, but Chicago has scored an average of 2.9 runs for him over that stretch.
"For one reason or another, we don't seem to score too much for him," manager Robin Ventura said. "He always goes out there knowing each pitch can cost him. We need to do a better job of giving him more room to pitch with."Peavy gave up two runs and five hits in eight innings of Monday's 11-inning, 3-2 loss at Toronto. In his previous outing, he lost to Kansas City on Aug. 7 after allowing three runs in 6 2-3 innings.
Peavy has dropped five straight decisions over six starts against the Royals while recording a 5.63 ERA. At Kauffman Stadium on July 14, he allowed six runs and 12 hits - two homers - in seven innings of a 6-3 loss.
Royals slugger Billy Butler is 10 for 25 with three homers against Peavy. Butler homered Friday, extending his home hitting streak against the White Sox to 15 games. He's batting .361 during that stretch and has three homers in the last four overall meetings between these teams.
The Royals are 10-6 in August after going 7-19 in July.
On Saturday, they'll turn to Bruce Chen (8-10, 5.56), who is 4-1 with a 2.79 ERA in his last eight outings against the White Sox.
Although Chicago tagged him for six runs and three homers in 4 2-3 innings in July, the left-hander held the White Sox to two runs over 6 2-3 innings of the Aug. 7 victory opposite Peavy.
Chen wasn't as sharp against Baltimore on Sunday, allowing four runs and four hits, including two homers, in 5 1-3 innings of a 5-3 loss.
Royals second baseman Chris Getz suffered a broken left thumb Friday and will miss the rest of the season. To take his spot, Kansas City called up Johnny Giavotella , who hit .217 in 21 games in his last recall.
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AVG
HRRUNSSBSOBBOBPSLGOPS
VS.
| HITTERS | AB | AVG | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | OBP | OPS | SLG |
| Gordon Beckham | 13 | .077 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .071 | .148 | .077 |
| Adam Dunn | 8 | .375 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | .500 | 1.000 | .500 |
| Tyler Flowers | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Kosuke Fukudome | 9 | .222 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .222 | .444 | .222 |
| Paul Konerko | 27 | .222 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | .323 | .804 | .481 |
| Brent Lillibridge | 3 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Brent Morel | 12 | .333 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | .429 | 1.096 | .667 |
| A.J. Pierzynski | 24 | .458 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | .519 | 1.227 | .708 |
| Alexei Ramirez | 14 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .125 | .125 | .000 |
| Alex Rios | 30 | .133 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | .182 | .315 | .133 |
| Dayan Viciedo | 4 | .750 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .750 | 1.500 | .750 |
VS.
| HITTERS | AB | AVG | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | OBP | OPS | SLG |
| Yuniesky Betancourt | 15 | .200 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .188 | .388 | .200 |
| Billy Butler | 18 | .389 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 6 | .476 | 1.365 | .889 |
| Alcides Escobar | 9 | .222 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .222 | .666 | .444 |
| Jeff Francoeur | 21 | .381 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | .381 | .810 | .429 |
| Chris Getz | 9 | .111 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .200 | .311 | .111 |
| Alex Gordon | 12 | .250 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | .250 | .500 | .250 |
| Eric Hosmer | 7 | .143 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .333 | .476 | .143 |
| Mitch Maier | 11 | .091 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .091 | .182 | .091 |
| Mike Moustakas | 8 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Jonathan Sanchez | 3 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
 Chicago White Sox |
|||
| Date | Player | Status | Injury |
| August 16, 2012 | Orlando Hudson | 15-Day DL | Contusion on left foot |
| August 14, 2012 | Leyson Septimo | 15-Day DL | Left biceps inflammation |
| August 12, 2012 | Kevin Youkilis | Day-to-Day | Sore left forearm |
| August 08, 2012 | Paul Konerko | 7-Day DL | Mild concussion |
| August 08, 2012 | Alex Rios | Day-to-Day | Stiff back |
| August 08, 2012 | Paul Konerko | 7-Day DL | Mild concussion |
 Kansas City Royals |
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| Date | Player | Status | Injury |
| August 17, 2012 | Chris Getz | Day-to-Day | Left game - fractured left thumb |
| July 28, 2012 | Mike Moustakas | Day-to-Day | Left game - sprained right knee |
| July 05, 2012 | Luke Hochevar | Day-to-Day | Sprained right ankle |
| June 18, 2012 | Chris Getz | 15-Day DL | Lateral strain in lower left leg |
| June 18, 2012 | Chris Getz | 15-Day DL | Lateral strain in lower left leg |
| June 07, 2012 | Felipe Paulino | 60-Day DL | Strained right groin |
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Mike Moustakas and the Kansas City Royals put on an offensive display that ruined Adam Dunn 's 400th career homer.
Moustakas hit a three-run shot, Billy Butler had three RBIs and the Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 9-4 on Saturday night.
"We've very confident coming in here each day," Butler said. "We believe in each other. We honestly believe coming in each day that we're going to win."
Chicago trailed 5-2 before Dunn drove a 2-2 pitch from Tim Collins over the wall in left-center in the eighth. Kevin Youkilis , who singled with one out for his 1,000th career hit, was aboard for Dunn's major league-best 35th homer of the season.
Dunn is one of 11 active players with 400 homers and No. 50 to reach the mark overall. The burly slugger and Paul Konerko are the first teammates to reach 400 career homers in the same season.
"It's just about the worst-case scenario, getting it like this," Dunn said. "We've played two bad games. Tonight was a disaster from the get-go. Obviously, I would have wanted it to come in a win."
Kansas City responded with four runs in the bottom half. Butler, who finished with three hits, singled in Alcides Escobar before Moustakas hit a drive to right for his 19th homer.
All four runs were charged to Brett Myers , who gave up four hits.
"A 5-4 lead is by no means a comfortable situation," Butler said. "Nobody wants to be pitching with that tight of a lead. Sometimes you have to do it. We have to do it enough. We've had to win enough tight ones, so it was good to have a cruise win."
Moustakas finished with four RBIs for the Royals, who have won four of five. Escobar had four infield singles, scored three runs and had his team-leading 24th steal.
Butler, who homered Friday, was hit by a Jake Peavy pitch in the first inning.
"I think we all know what that was," Butler said. "I'm not going to beat around the bush on that. Maybe I did a little excessive last night. Professionals hit me below the belt and that's the professional way to do it and move on. I felt like I won today. We're going to leave it I professionally got back even."
Alex Gordon also had three hits for Kansas City, including his American League-leading 39th double. Eric Hosmer contributed a solo home run in the sixth as the Royals rapped out 15 hits overall.
The White Sox committed a season-high four errors. They entered ranked second in the majors with a .988 fielding percentage. It was just their ninth multi-error game this season.
The Royals took advantage of miscues by catcher Tyler Flowers , right fielder Alex Rios and second baseman Gordon Beckham to push across two unearned runs in the third. Butler had an RBI single and scored on Moustakas' base hit.
Bruce Chen (9-10) held the White Sox scoreless until Dunn doubled and scored on Konerko's 20th homer in the sixth. It was Konerko's 41st career home run against Kansas City.
Konerko has connected in back-to-back games since coming off the concussion-disabled list Friday.
Chen allowed five hits, struck out five and walked one in six innings. Chen mentioned how the rotation has been pitching well in August.
"I just wanted to keep it going, not let the starting rotation down," Chen said. "I see all these guys doing well. I say, `You know what, I can do that.' You can start seeing how aggressive and how they're pitching."
Peavy (9-9) gave up five runs, two unearned, and nine hits in 5 1-3 innings, dropping to 0-6 with a 5.52 ERA in his past seven starts against the Royals. He is 1-5 with a 5.52 ERA in six starts at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals are 12-6 in their past 18 games.
NOTES: Royals 2B Chris Getz , who broke his left thumb Friday, had season-ending surgery with two pins placed in the thumb. There is an eight-week recovery time, and Getz is expected to be at 100 percent by spring training. Manager Ned Yost said Johnny Giavotella , who was recalled from Triple-A Omaha, would get the majority of the playing time at second with Getz out. .... White Sox CF Alejandro De Aza was not the lineup with cramps in his lower back. Dewayne Wise replaced him. ... CF Lorenzo Cain hit leadoff for the first time. Cain is the eighth player Yost has batted first this season. ... RHP Jeremy Guthrie takes a 15-inning scoreless streak into Sunday's start against the White Sox, who will start rookie LHP Jose Quintana .
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Chicago White Sox