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The White Sox blew multiple chances to put away the Royals and paid for it. After scoring one run in the first, they loaded the bases and couldn't get anyone else in. DeWayne Wise started the White Sox half of the third inning with a triple and ended the third inning in the same spot. In the eighth, Alexei Ramirez sacrificed Dayan Viciedo and Jordan Danks to second and third (for Gordon Beckham to bring home?!?) and couldn't get anyone in.
Robin Ventura's insistence on not fiddling with the batting order provided mixed dividends. With Kevin Youkilis out, Ventura went with Jose Lopez in a straight swap at #2 in the order. The results were predictable.
The man who has been DFAed four times went 0-5, including grounding out in the second inning to strand Alejandro De Aza at second base, striking out with runners on first and second to end the fourth, grounding out to end the sixth and, most egregiously, popping out with the bases loaded to end the last White Sox threat in the eighth. The last was the most curious because Ventura had the left-handed Dan Johnson (only DFAed three times!) on his bench but still left Lopez in to face the right-handed Kelvin Herrera.
On the other hand, Wise, another guy who has been DFAed four times, slotted into Adam Dunn's usual #3 spot and provided better than Adam Dunn production with a 2-4 performance including a walk, triple and solo home run.
Francisco Liriano didn't pitch well, going 5+ innings while giving up five runs (with an assist from Nate Jones) on four walks and six hits, including two home runs. The relievers that followed them were very good. Until Addison Reed came into the game in the ninth to protect a 5-5 tie and promptly gave up a single to Johnny Giavotella and a home run to Lorenzo Cain (his second of the night).
In the bottom of the ninth, Wise's pixie dust ran out and he struck out to lead off the inning. Paul Konerko tried to get a rally started with a single but Royals closer Greg Holland slammed the door shut by striking out both Alex Rios and the pinch-hitting Johnson.