KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jake Petricka was victimized by the Kansas City Royals’ speedy base runners in the ninth inning.
Pinch-runners Jarrod Dyson and Terrance Gore used their speed to score runs and rally the Royals to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.
“Having speedy runners like that can help you,” Petricka said. “Can’t say I’ve ever seen it twice in an inning but there it was.”
Mike Moustakas doubled with one out in the ninth. Dyson ran for him, stole third and came around to score as Petricka (1-5) threw a wild pitch. After Nori Aoki, who had four hits, doubled with two outs, Gore ran for him and scored from second on Lorenzo Cain’s infield single.
“It was strange,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “When you see a play like that you think that’s OK, you go ahead and give it to them and try to get the next guy, but then they get another one. That kid is fast. Speed can do a lot of things.”
Wade Davis (9-2) worked a scoreless ninth to pick up the victory, extending his scoreless streak to 31 2-3 innings.
White Sox starter John Danks pitched six scoreless innings and allowed just two singles, both by Aoki, before departing after 103 pitches. He struck out six and walked four. Danks, who has a 1.73 ERA at Kauffman Stadium, has never lost to the Royals in 15 career starts.
“He pitched gutsy,” Ventura said. “He threw enough strikes that he was effective.”
The Royals scored all their runs off three White Sox relievers.
Royals right-hander James Shields, who had his career best 18 1-3 scoreless innings streak ended in the first, gave up three runs and 10 hits, while striking out six and walking none in seven innings.
“We had a lot of opportunities, but he came through,” Ventura said. “We never got the big hit to put it out of reach. He was tough.”
Avisail Garcia’s two-out single in the first scored Adam Eaton. Eaton led off the White Sox third with a double and scored on a Shields’ wild pitch. Conor Gillaspie singled home Alexei Ramirez with the second run of the inning.
Eric Hosmer hit a double into shallow left off Javy Guerra to open the seventh and scored on Omar Infante’s single for the first Kansas City run.
Aoki led off the eighth with an infield single, advanced to second on Gillaspie’s throwing error, took third on a Zach Putnam’s wild pitch and scored on Alex Gordon’s single.
WALK ON WILD SIDE
White Sox reliever Zach Putnam threw two wild pitches in the eighth inning. He had only three wild pitches in his previous 65 innings in the majors.
UP NEXT
White Sox: RHP Chris Bassitt will make his fourth career appearance and third big league start Tuesday. Bassitt has allowed 14 hits, walked seven and hit two batters in 13 1-3 innings.
Royals: RHP Liam Hendriks, who retired only seven of the 15 batters he faced in a loss Thursday to Boston, will make another spot start Tuesday.
TRAINER’S ROOM
White Sox: DH-1B Paul Konerko (fractured left hand) took batting practice and could return to the lineup this week.
Royals: LHP Danny Duffy (sore shoulder) will miss another start. He is scheduled to throw a 50-pitch four-inning simulated game Tuesday. If he has no problems, he will start Monday at Cleveland. . DH-OF Josh Willingham (groin strain) said he is available to pinch hit. He has trouble running, but not swinging.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
