2008 State of the Sox

August 14: White Sox 9, Royals 2

A Paul Konerko non-error error could very well have prevented the Sox from racking up a third straight shutout, but they found other ways to make their mark -- or, in Carlos Quentin's case, have a mark left on him.

Back-to-back-to-back-to-back homers -- the sixth time in history that's happened -- by Jim Thome, Konerko, Alexei Ramirez and Juan Uribe put a close game out of reach to complete the sweep and extend their lead in the AL Central to a full game.  And Quentin was plunked by another pitch in his first at-bat, making it the sixth straight game he's earned an HBP.

Oh, and Konerko stole second.

With the Sox leading 3-2 in the sixth, Ken Griffey Jr. and Quentin drew a pair of one-out walks.  Jermaine Dye popped up to put the pressure on Thome, and he delivered.  He took a 3-1 Joel Peralta fastball into the right field seats to stretch the lead to 6-2.

Konerko then pulled one just inside the left field foul pole, a towering shot to make it back-to-back.  Alexei Ramirez launched a no-doubter, which sent Peralta packing.  In came Robinson Tejeda, who appeared to overwhelm Juan Uribe with his fastball, getting ahead 1-2.  For some reason, he then threw a slider of the hanging variety, and Uribe roped it into the bullpen for the rare fourth consecutive home run, capping what suddenly became a laugher.

The game certainly didn't start off on such a thrilling note, as the Royals grabbed a quick 2-0 lead on Lance Broadway.  Mitch Maier greeted Broadway with a single, and Mike Aviles hit a hard grounder at Konerko.  It could've been a 3-6-3 double play, or at least a fielder's choice, but the ball instead ramped off his mitt and into right field.  Jose Guillen would single both of them in for a 2-0 lead.

Broadway was on the verge of letting the game get away from him after walking Billy Butler, but Guillen tried to steal third before Broadway delivered home.  He spun and fired to third, where Juan Uribe barely beat him with the tag, if he did so at all, for the second out.  Gordon would ground out after a 13-pitch at-bat to put Broadway in an early hole.

But he'd settle down to get through 5 1/3 innings, and the Sox would give him the lead after a three-run second.  Uribe shot a single through center, and Toby Hall got him to third by dumping a single to right.   Consecutive singles by Orlando Cabrera (RBI) and Griffey loaded the bases, and Dye brought home two with a double off the top of the left-field wall.

Record: 68-52 | Box score | Play-by-play