It all started in the second inning. Jake Peavy once again struggled with his command, and it put the Sox in an early hole. Peavy walked the first two batters to lead off the inning, and then, after one base runner had scored on a sacrifice fly, hit Matt Treanor to extend the inning for Kansas City. Alcides Escobar then hit a bases clearing triple to send the Royals up 3-0.
The Sox would come back to tie it at first, starting with Paul Konerko’s 22nd home run of the season to lead off the bottom of the second frame. Konerko and Carlos Quentin then combined with some timely hitting to score another two and even the game up in the bottom of the third.
But Peavy would continue to struggle. The Royals would take the lead for good in the top of the sixth. A leadoff single by Billy Butler was followed one out later by a base hit by Jeff Francoeur. Though Peavy managed to strike out Mike Moustakas, a wild pitch sent Butler to third and Francouer to second. Matt Treanor then followed through with a two run single to give the Royals a 5-3 lead.
The Sox had chances after that, but couldn’t capitalize. They had base runners in every subsequent inning, but just couldn’t get the timely hit they needed to drive them home and even the game, a story that has become all too familiar for White Sox fans this season.
The Sox and Royals will play the rubber match of the series on Wednesday afternoon at the Cell. First pitch will be at 1:10 P.M., CDT.