Three home runs prevent Royals from tying the Tigers at the top of the AL Central standings with one game to play
Paul Konerko Day offered plenty of fun for a capacity crowd at U.S. Cellular Field, even if Konerko had very little to do with it during the game.
Jose Abreu started the in-game fireworks with a two-run homer and Josh Phegley added a couple of solo shots, which ended up being enough offense for a typical 2014 White Sox pitching combination (John Danks quality start, rickety relief work).
Royals starter Danny Duffy didn't have anything out of the gate, walking Adam Eaton to start the game. Eaton stole second (which stood after a challenge), and scored on Alexei Ramirez's single. Jose Abreu then pounded a 2-2 fastball over the wall right-center for his 36th homer of the year, which means he holds the franchise rookie record by himself.
Phegley took a rolling curve over the wall in left for a solo shot in the second, and when Abreu led off the third with a single, Ned Yost didn't mess around, pulling Duffy after just two innings and a batter.
Yost did mess around in the seventh by using Tim Collins after the Royals made it a two-run game, and Collins gave up Phegley's second homer to restore the White Sox's three-run lead.
The Sox needed that run, because four White Sox relievers barely preserved that margin over six outs.
Ronald Belisario, hopefully making his last appearance of the year, gave up a walk, single and an RBI single to make it a 5-3 game. In came Eric Surkamp, who recorded two outs on one pitch. Eric Hosmer hit a bouncer to short, and Carlos Sanchez made an incredible barehanded turn for the 6-4-3 double play. Jake Petricka replaced Surkamp and got Billy Butler to bounce out to third to end the threat.
But Petricka walked the leadoff man in the ninth, then left with a tight back. Javy Guerra replaced him and retired the first two batters he faced -- a vicious lineout to center, and a productive out back to the mound. Mike Moustakas made it a more productive out with an RBI single to right. He was replaced by Terrance Gore, but Guerra got Alcides Escobar to hit a grounder to short before Gore stole second, and Andy Wilkins scooped a short-armed throw by Alexei Ramirez to end the game.
Danks' effort held up for the win, and he finishes his year at 11-11 with a 4.74 ERA. He pitched well, allowing just two runs on five hits and two walks over seven innings. He gave up single runs in the third (fielder's choice) and seventh (solo homer). He still has never lost a game to the Royals, improving his record against them to 7-0 over 16 starts.
As for Konerko, he went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts before Robin Ventura replaced him with Wilkins before the top of the seventh inning started. He departed to a standing ovation, and gave the crowd a curtain call.
Record: 73-88 | Box score | Play-by-play | Highlights
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