Royals 5, White Sox 2: Barbequed

Jeremy Guthrie did it to the White Sox again. He carried a no-hitter into the 7th inning that was broken up by, of all things, a (dubious) Paul Konerko infield hit.

Jose Quintana can thank his defense for bailing him out on a few occasions. When you give up 9 hits and 4 walks over seven innings, you'd expect the damage to be greater than 2 runs.

But that's where things stood in the 8th inning. With two outs and trailing 2-0, the White Sox finally touched up Guthrie. Dayan Viciedo lined a single into center and Ray Olmedo trickled a single into right to put runners on first and second for DeWayne Wise. Ned Yost called for lefty specialist Tim Collins.

Collins did his job, inducing a groundball to Eric Hosmer. However, Wise apparently hit it too hard for the normally sure-handed Hosmer to handle and it went through his legs. Viciedo and Olmedo scored, with Wise ending up on third. Wise was stranded there but the White Sox were back level.

And that's where the wheels fell off. Jesse Crain came on and immediately walked Billy Butler. Jarrod Dyson pinch ran for Butler and immediately stole second base. Salvador Perez singled to center and Wise made one of his usual ill-advised throws in a blatantly futile attempt to get the speedy Dyson at the plate, which allowed Perez to take second. Crain then walked Mike Moustakas but managed to avoid walking the suddenly walkable Jeff Francoeur, who struck out.

Ventura pulled Crain for Donnie Veal to get the lefty-on-lefty match-up against Hosmer. Veal showed his pedigree as a Rule 5 draftee and walked Hosmer on four pitches to load the bases.

Ventura then called on Nate Jones who, like Collins in the top half of the inning, did what he was supposed to do and induced a groundball from Johnny Giavotella to Olmedo at third base. Olmedo threw home to force Perez but A.J. Pierzynski threw the ball into right field trying to complete the inning-ending double play, which allowed Moustakas to score. Lorenzo Cain twisted the knife with a single that plated Hosmer. 5-2 Royals and game over.