Kansas City, MO - Danny Richar finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored and his sixth home run of the season began an 11-run fifth inning which sent Chicago over Kansas City, 11-3, in the first of four between the clubs at Kauffman Stadium.
Josh Fields hit a two-run homer and drove in four for the White Sox, who have won four of their last five. Jermaine Dye hit a three-run shot and Alex Cintron had three hits, an RBI and a run scored.
Javier Vazquez (13-8) allowed five hits and two runs over eight innings, fanning 13 without walking a batter.
'We hit a lot of balls hard,' Dye said. 'They hit some hard, too. We just had a big inning and Javi went out pitched a great game.'
Royals starter Kyle Davies (2-6) was rocked in the loss, charged with seven hits and six runs over 4 1/3 innings.
Alex Gordon hit a two-run homer and Billy Butler added a solo shot for the Royals, who have lost three of four. Ross Gload added a pair of hits in defeat.
In the fateful frame, Richar's leadoff homer cut the Royals' lead to 2-1, then Cintron and Jerry Owens hit back-to-back singles. Owens stole second and with two runners in scoring position, Fields doubled them home to put the Sox up 3-2.
Two batters later, Paul Konerko was walked intentionally and Dye followed with a three-run homer. Davies was finally lifted for Brandon Duckworth, but A.J. Pierzynski greeted him with a single and went to second on a wild pitch. Juan Uribe's double brought in a run, then he advanced to third on another wild offering. Richar tripled to score Uribe and it was 8-2.
Cintron's sacrifice fly plated Richar, then after another Owens base hit, Fields cranked a two-run homer to center to bring the Sox lead to 11-2. Darin Erstad, the 14th batter of the inning, grounded out to complete the onslaught.
It was Chicago's largest inning since a similar 11-run frame against St. Louis last June 20.
The game was quiet until Butler's homer in the ninth off Heath Phillips for Kansas City's third and final run.
'We're just not playing well,' said Royals manager Buddy Bell. 'I don't think it's a tired team. We've had days off. It's just the way it is right now. Teams are better than we are.'
The night started off a lot better for the home club, as Gload's double started the second, and Gordon scored him on a two-run home run.
Game Notes
Kansas City had not given up an 11-run inning since last August 13 at Cleveland...Vazquez's career-best is 14 strikeouts...The White Sox improved to 3-13 in their last 16 road games...Chicago leads the season series 9-3...Duckworth was tagged with five runs and six hits while recording two outs in the fifth...Fields' 20th homer leads all AL rookies...Erstad was the only White Sox starter not to record a hit.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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