Royals Crush White Sox 9-4, Clinch Series

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals added another August win to the rack on Saturday night, rocking the first-place Chicago White Sox 9-4 at Kauffman Stadium.

The Royals (53-66, 25-33 home) currently trail the Cleveland Indians by a half-game for third place in the A.L. Central.

Starter Bruce Chen pitched well with the help of some early run support. The Royals took a 4-0 lead in the fifth inning after All-Star Billy Butler’s second RBI single of the night.

Chen (9-10, 5.45 ERA) gave up two runs on five hits in 6 innings, striking out five and walking one.

The Royals outhit the White Sox 15-8.

A mini-home run derby went down in the sixth and eighth innings. In the sixth, a two-run blast by White Sox All-Star Paul Konerko was answered with a solo HR by Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer. Kansas City led 5-2.

Things got scary in the eighth when All-Star Adam Dunn jacked a two-run shot to cut the deficit to 5-4. It was Dunn’s 400th career HR. Butler answered the milestone HR with his third RBI single of the night to make it 6-4.

Mike Moustakas put the icing on the cake with a three-run jack to give the Royals a 9-4 lead, his 19th of the year.

The Royals own a 7-4 record against the White Sox (65-54, 33-28 away) this season.

All-Star Jake Peavy (9-9, 3.11 ERA) earned the loss, surrendering five runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings, fanning six and walking one.

The Royals go for the sweep on Sunday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium, when red hot Royals newcomer Jeremy Guthrie (2-3, 4.02 ERA) takes the mound against White Sox rookie lefty Jose Quintana (5-2, 2.77 ERA).