White Sox 2, Royals 0
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- John Danks pitched eight scoreless innings and Gordon Beckham homered as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Kansas City Royals 2-0 Tuesday night.
Danks, who has two career shutouts, limited the Royals to seven hits, six of them singles, while throwing 100 pitches, 71 for strikes.
He picked up his first victory since July 2 but has been impeccable against the Royals, posting a 6-0 career record in 13 starts. Danks is 4-0 with a 1.65 ERA in eight career starts at Kauffman Stadium.
Addison Reed replaced Danks (3-10) in the ninth and logged his 32nd save in 37 opportunities. Reed gave up a leadoff single to Billy Butler, and pinch runner Jarrod Dyson stole second, but he retired the next two batters on pop ups and struck out Justin Maxwell to preserve the victory.
The White Sox have won four straight road games, matching their longest road winning streak, last done May 14-17.
While the White Sox have a 50-74 record -- only the Astros have a worse mark in the American League -- it was a costly defeat for the Royals, who are trying to remain on the fringe of the playoff race. Kansas City lost for the sixth time in eight games and the seventh time in 11, scoring three runs on fewer in six of those defeats.
The White Sox starters are 5-1 with a 2.29 ERA in the past seven games.
Chicago scored single runs in the first two innings.
Gordon Beckham homered to left off Ervin Santana (8-7) in the first. Beckham, who entered the game a career .221 hitter against the Royals, belted his seventh career homer against Kansas City but his first this year.
Paul Konerko led off the second with a double to left and stopped at third on Avisail Garcia's single to center. Konerko came home on a passed ball charged to catcher Salvador Perez with Conor Gillaspie batting.
The White Sox threatened in the fourth, loading the bases on a Garcia single and walks to Konerko and Dayan Viciedo. After a visit to the mound from pitching coach Dave Eiland, Santana rebounded by striking out Josh Phegley swinging to end the inning.
Santana, who was 3-0 with three no-decisions in his previous six starts, was replaced by Luke Hochevar after six innings. Santana gave up two runs (one earned) and four hits while striking out five and walking two.
NOTES: The Royals reinstated Maxwell from the bereavement list and optioned LHP Will Smith to Triple-A Omaha. Smith was in his sixth stint with the Royals this season. ...The White Sox have outscored opponents 61-60 in the first inning. ... Konerko's next home run will be the 432nd of his career, which would move one past Hall of Famer Cal Ripken for 44th place on the career list. ... Royals 3B Mike Moustakas, who has played in only one game since suffering a strained left calf on Aug. 12, was held out of the lineup again.
