Chicago, IL (Sports Network) – Mark Buehrle spun seven scoreless frames and A.J. Pierzynski hit two home runs and drove in a season-high four runs to power the White Sox to an 8-2 victory over Kansas City in the opener of a three-game set.
Buehrle (8-7) allowed six hits, while walking three and striking out a pair to lead Chicago to its sixth consecutive win.
Andruw Jones had three hits and drove in two runs and Paul Konerko had a pair of hits, scored twice and drove in a run for the White Sox, who have won 12 of their last 13 home games.
Bruce Chen (5-3) suffered the loss after yielding three runs on six hits over 3 1/3 innings, while walking one and fanning one for the Royals, who were denied their first four-game win streak of the season.
Konerko and Carlos Quentin opened the second inning with singles, advanced on a Pierzynski sacrifice bunt and scored on a single off the base of the left field wall by Jones, who had driven in only one run since June 11.
Pierzynski went from small ball to long ball with a one-out solo home run in the fourth that made it 3-0 and knocked Chen out of the game.
Meanwhile, the Royals put a runner at second base in four of the first five innings and had multiple base runners in the first, fourth and fifth innings but could not score against the ChiSox southpaw.
Chicago added another run in the fifth against Kanekoa Texeira when Gordon Beckham doubled, moved to third on a Juan Pierre bunt base hit and scored when Alexei Ramirez bounced into a double play.
Alex Rios worked a two-out walk in the eighth off Victor Marte, stole second and scored when Konerko doubled to the gap in right-center. Quentin drew a walk, and was replaced by a pinch-runner, before Pierzynski followed with his second clout of the night to right field to finish the scoring for the home side.
Sergio Santos threw a scoreless eighth for the Sox and turned things over in the ninth to Jeff Marquez, who was making his major league debut. The right- hander retired the first batter he faced before Mitch Maier singled and scored on a Yuniesky Betancourt home run that spoiled the shutout bid. Marquez then retired the next two hitters to end the game.
Royals’ outfielder Jose Guillen missed his second straight game due to a left quadriceps strain suffered in Tuesday’s game in Seattle…Quentin returned after missing the last three games because of a knee injury…Jones had his first multi-RBI game since May 5…Buehrle beat the Royals for the first time in three meetings this year and for a 21st time in his career…The season series is even at five games apiece…The White Sox are 23-5 since June 9. Bryan Bulaga, the 23rd overall pick in the NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers, threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game.