Royals 7, White Sox 6: Sox competitive in loss

The White Sox lost their sixth straight game, but bless their hearts -- they at least showed some late-game fight. Moral victories is what this season has come to.

A two-run homer by Brent Morel in the eighth helped the Sox come back from a 6-3 deficit, only to watch Matt Thornton lose it in the ninth by allowing a leadoff single to Alex Gordon, a sac bunt, and a game-ending hit over the head of Juan Pierre in left to win it. Thornton dropped to 1-5 on the year.

Phil Humber didn't do any favors, as he struggled over six innings. The Royals touched him up for six runs (five earned) over six innings, including a two-run homer by Mike Moustakas, who snapped his personal 0-for-35 record against the White Sox with a 3-for-4 night.

Notes:

*Addison Reed pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief between Humber and Thornton, striking out two.

*Alex Rios and Adam Dunn started in the same game, and they combined to go 0-for-9 with a walk.

*Paul Konerko helped out Humber with a neat little assist in the first inning. He cut off a throw home after Hosmer singled, and caught Hosmer rounding first a little too generously. He flipped the ball to Gordon Beckham in time for the tag, giving Humber a much-needed second out. But he couldn't take advantage of it, as Jeff Francoeur followed with a single to left, and the Royals never trailed again.

Record: 73-77 | Box score | Play-by-play