Chicago, IL (Sports Network) – Carlos Quentin clubbed two home runs and Gavin Floyd pitched into the eighth inning as the Chicago White Sox took a 5-1 win over the Kansas City Royals in the second of a three-game set.
Floyd (5-7) won his third straight start as he was charged with six hits and a run with a walk and four strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings for the White Sox, who have won seven straight. Quentin hit a solo and two-run home run while newly- named All-Star Paul Konerko drove in a run and scored once in the win.
David DeJesus drove in the lone run for the Royals, who have dropped the first two of this set after sweeping Seattle in three games. Brian Bannister (7-7) went six innings and was charged with five runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Kansas City got its first two men of the game on base with back-to-back singles, but DeJesus struck out and Billy Butler struck out with Scott Podsednik getting caught stealing third on the play to end the inning.
Chicago grabbed the lead in the second when Quentin led off the frame by clubbing a 1-0 pitch into the left field stands.
Floyd set the Royals down in order over the next three innings before Jose Guillen led off the fifth with a double. The next two batters recorded outs, but Guillen moved to third on a wild pitch. Mitch Maier, though, struck out to end the inning.
The White Sox surged ahead in the fifth. Gordon Beckham led off the frame with a homer to left. With one on and two outs, Konerko roped a double to left that scored Omar Vizquel. Quentin followed with his second home run of the game for a 5-0 lead.
The Royals got on the board in the eighth when Jason Kendall hit a two-out single and, after Matt Thornton took the mound, DeJesus followed with a double.
J.J. Putz worked around a leadoff single in the ninth by retiring the next three batters to close out the win.
Chicago has won 24 of its last 29 games…The White Sox have won six of the 11 games with Kansas City this season…Floyd improved to 3-7 in his career against Kansas City…Bannister is 4-7 versus Chicago…Zack Greinke takes the mound for KC on Sunday and will be opposed by Dan Hudson…Konerko will replace Minnesota’s Justin Morneau on the AL All-Star roster.