Chi White Sox (52-38) at Kansas City (40-51)

TV: CSN+ | Radio: WSCR 670 8:10 pm ET Kauffman Stadium TV: FSN-HD | Radio: KCSP 610
cws

Sox closer duties to be shared

Mark Dent / MLB.com
Who will step in as the Sox primary closer while Bobby Jenks is on the disabled list is not clear. For now, manager Ozzie Guillen plans on using a closer-by-committee system.
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White Sox probable pitcher

Javier Vazquez

  • #33 RHP
  • (7-7) 4.37 ERA 114 SO
White Sox: Although it ended in defeat, Vazquez produced his best start since May 31 during Thursday's 3-2 loss to Oakland. Vazquez had allowed five runs in each of his last four starts, but gave up just three runs on four hits during the 23rd complete game of his career. Vazquez fanned 10, including seven over the first three innings, giving him 35 career games with double-digit strikeouts. Vazquez threw a season-high 123 pitches, after making a change in mechanics to keep his hands closer to the body during his windup. He has not faced the Royals in 2008 but has a 6-2 career record with a 2.74 ERA against Kansas City and a 2-0 mark at Kauffman Stadium.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 122-120 4.29 2177.2 576 1929 .259
Season 7-7 4.37 115.1 33 114 .267
July 0-1 3.00 9.0 1 10 .129

Series at a Glance

Standings - 07/09/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Chicago White Sox (AL Central) 52 38 .578 - 32-14 20-24
Kansas City Royals (AL Central) 40 51 .440 12.5 19-22 21-29
Stats - 07/09/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
CWS .262 435 121 425 34 537 3.41 808.2 756 252 637
KC .263 376 66 351 44 554 4.56 811.0 842 282 589
kc

Royals looking to improve vs. Sox

Dick Kaegel / MLB.com
The Royals didn't meet up with the White Sox until June 3 this season, and it wasn't pleasant. They were swept in three games. The Royals have not won a season series from the White Sox since 2000. Since then, they've been just 46-88 against the Sox.
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Royals probable pitcher

Brian Bannister

  • #19 RHP
  • (7-8) 5.15 ERA 63 SO
Royals: Bannister got knocked around in Friday night's start against the red-hot Rays. The right-hander allowed seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and made an early exit after five innings. He has struggled in road appearances this season, posting a 2-5 record and an 8.36 ERA away from Kauffman Stadium. Although Bannister has been erratic on the mound, his control was not a problem in Friday's loss, as he issued only one walk. With losses in his last two starts, Bannister will look to bounce back against the White Sox. He is 2-1 in five starts vs. Chicago, with a 6.65 ERA.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 21-18 4.37 311.1 97 159 .260
Season 7-8 5.15 108.1 31 63 .282
July 0-1 10.80 5.0 1 6 .400

White Sox hitters vs Brian Bannister

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Armstrong, Cole - - - -
Beckham, Gordon - - - -
De Aza, Alejandro - - - -
Flowers, Tyler - - - -
Gartrell, Stefan - - - -
Konerko, Paul - - - -
Kotsay, Mark - - - -
Lillibridge, Brent - - - -
Nix, Jayson - - - -
Pierzynski, A.J. - - - -
Quentin, Carlos - - - -
Ramirez, Alexei - - - -
Rios, Alex - - - -
Teahen, Mark - - - -
Viciedo, Dayan - - - -

Royals hitters vs Javier Vazquez

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Anderson, Josh - - - -
Aviles, Mike - - - -
Betancourt, Yuniesky - - - -
Bianchi, Jeff - - - -
Bloomquist, Willie .000 3 0 0
Buck, John - - - -
Butler, Billy - - - -
Callaspo, Alberto - - - -
DeJesus, David - - - -
Dyson, Jarrod - - - -
Fields, Josh - - - -
Getz, Chris - - - -
Gordon, Alex - - - -
Guillen, Jose - - - -
Hernandez, Luis .000 2 0 0
Jacobs, Mike - - - -
Ka'aihue, Kila - - - -
Lisson, Mario - - - -
Maier, Mitch - - - -
Parraz, Jordan - - - -
Pena, Brayan - - - -
Pina, Manuel - - - -

Royals' balk lifts Sox (53-38) (40-52)

White Sox 7, Royals 6

Quentin blasts pair

Mark Dent / MLB.com
Carlos Quentin went deep for his 20th and 21st home runs of the season, driving in four, and also scored the winning run in the eighth inning on a balk by Royals reliever Ramon Ramirez. Starter Javier Vazquez lasted 5 2/3 innings.

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Series at a Glance

 

Miscue sinks Royals

Dick Kaegel / MLB.com
Brian Bannister went 6 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking three, and John Buck hit a solo home run, but for the second consecutive night, the Royals bullpen couldn't hang on to a late lead, with Ramon Ramirez balking in the deciding run.
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White Sox 7, Royals 6

Chi White SoxABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Cabrera, SS2100200.265
Swisher, CF-1B3210102.235
Quentin, LF3324110.275
Dye, RF4000022.294
Thome, DH3111100.240
Konerko, 1B4000042.213
  Anderson, B, CF0000000.229
Crede, 3B4000001.258
Ramirez, 2B4011020.308
Hall, C2000000.275
  a-Pierzynski, PH-C2000021.290
Totals317565118 

a-Struck out for Hall in the 7th.

BATTING
2B: Swisher (15, Bannister), Ramirez (13, Bannister).
HR: Quentin 2 (21, 4th inning off Bannister, 1 on, 1 out; 6th inning off Bannister, 1 on, 2 out).
TB: Swisher 2; Quentin 8; Thome; Ramirez 2.
RBI: Quentin 4 (65), Ramirez (29), Thome (45).
2-out RBI: Quentin 2; Ramirez; Thome.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Pierzynski; Konerko.
GIDP: Swisher.
Team LOB: 2.

BASERUNNING
SB: Cabrera 2 (14, 2nd base off Tejeda/Buck, 3rd base off Ramirez, R/Buck).

FIELDING
E: Quentin (6, throw).
PB: Hall (1).
DP: 3 (Crede-Ramirez-Konerko 2, Crede-Ramirez-Swisher).
 
Kansas CityABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
DeJesus, D, CF4100122.307
Aviles, M, SS5110010.299
Gordon, 3B4011020.252
Guillen, LF4110011.274
Grudzielanek, 2B4130000.319
Gload, 1B4032001.278
Butler, DH4110004.260
Teahen, RF4010012.252
Buck, C3122010.252
Totals3661351810 

BATTING
2B: Butler (13, Vazquez, J), Grudzielanek (20, Vazquez, J).
HR: Buck (5, 4th inning off Vazquez, J, 0 on, 1 out).
TB: Aviles, M; Gordon; Guillen; Grudzielanek 4; Gload 3; Butler 2; Teahen; Buck 5.
RBI: Gordon (44), Buck 2 (28), Gload 2 (20).
2-out RBI: Gload 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Butler; DeJesus, D; Teahen.
SF: Buck.
GIDP: Guillen; Butler 2.
Team LOB: 5.

FIELDING
DP: (Bannister-Aviles, M-Gload).
 
Chi White SoxIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Vazquez, J 5.211661314.61
Logan 1.00000101.95
Russell (W, 3-0)0.11000102.70
Thornton (H, 10)1.01000002.21
Dotel (S, 1)1.00000302.79
 
Kansas CityIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Bannister 6.24553625.24
Tejeda (H, 1)(L, 0-2)0.20222105.65
Ramirez, R (BS, 3)0.21000202.89
Peralta 1.00000205.65

Russell pitched to 1 batter in the 8th.

Balk: Ramirez, R.
Pitches-strikes: Vazquez, J 87-67, Logan 15-10, Russell 5-5, Thornton 5-5, Dotel 10-9, Bannister 106-62, Tejeda 18-8, Ramirez, R 11-7, Peralta 12-9.
Groundouts-flyouts: Vazquez, J 8-6, Logan 2-0, Russell 0-0, Thornton 3-0, Dotel 0-0, Bannister 9-5, Tejeda 0-1, Ramirez, R 0-0, Peralta 0-1.
Batters faced: Vazquez, J 27, Logan 3, Russell 2, Thornton 3, Dotel 3, Bannister 26, Tejeda 4, Ramirez, R 3, Peralta 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Logan 2-0, Thornton 1-0, Tejeda 1-0, Ramirez, R 2-2.
Umpires: HP: Dan Iassogna. 1B: Bill Hohn. 2B: Dale Scott. 3B: Ron Kulpa.
Weather: 84 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 2 mph, R to L.
T: 2:46.
Att: 16,502.
July 9, 2008

Box score official statistics approved by Major League Baseball Office of the Commissioner