Another One Gets Away

Game Date: May 12, 2007
White Sox 5, Royals 4 / Box Score
WP: MacDougal (1-0), LP: Duckworth (0-3)
Royal Home Runs: Buck (5)
Royals Record: 11-26

Many of the names have changed, but the song remains the same in Kansas City. This was yet another game that shouldn't have slipped through our fingers. But, it did. More about that in a minute.

Scott Elarton didn't look as sharp as you like, but it's understandable, given that this was his first start since July of last year. He gave up two earned runs on six hits and two walks in five innings of work. He gave up a solo home run in the first inning to Juan Uribe on a high fastball. But he found a way to keep the Royals in the game.

The Royals had a chance to score first, but blew it. With a runner on third and one out, Mark Teahen, who was batting clean up, struck out. A throwing error in the second inning by Mark Grudzielanek led to a second White Sox run and they were up 2-0 early.

The Royals had a big fourth inning though against Mark Buehrle. Mike Sweeney hit an RBI double to make it 2-1, Chicago. Billy Butler hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game 2-2. And John Buck hit a two run home run with two outs to give the Royals a 4-2 lead.

But, Esteban German, who was playing shortstop for the first time in his career, booted a ball and the White Sox ended up scoring a run in the fifth inning to make it 4-3. The Royals held the lead all the way into the ninth. They had a chance to add some insurance when they loaded the bases with two outs, but Mark Teahen struck out again. Juan Uribe hit an RBI double in the bottom of the ninth with two outs off Joakim Soria to tie the game and send it into extra innings.

Again, it looked like the Royals might win after Emil Brown drew a walk in the tenth inning against Mike MacDougal and then ended up at third after MacDougal uncorked two pitches that were hard to handle. But with the go-ahead run on third and one out, Billy Butler hit a weak chopper to second, failing to get the run home. Alex Gordon struck out.

And you know the rest of the story. Jermaine Dye drove in the winning run in the bottom of the tenth.

Jorge De La Rosa (3-3, 4.06) goes against Javier Vazquez (2-1, 3.52) this afternoon. De La Rosa has never pitched against the White Sox. Vazquez is 4-1 against the Royals in his career with a 2.57 ERA.