The Sox pretty much removed the drama from this ballgame early -- which is how it should go more often than not against a team like the Royals.
Of course, the Sox had to overcome yet another out on the basepaths when Paul Konerko was thrown out trying to go from first to third on a hard single to center, but they kept hitting. Jermaine Dye doubled off the wall in left, Nick Swisher's flipped single to center scored one, and an 0-2 single through the right side by Orlando Cabrera brought home two.
That was all the runs Jose Contreras would retire. Joey Gathright scored the only run off him by distracting him with his speed. He bunted, stole second, stole third and came home to score when Pablo Ozuna whiffed catching Toby Hall's late-but-on-target throw.
It was the only time Contreras looked remotely frazzled. Otherwise, he was in control, allowing only four hits and two walks, both two David DeJesus, who is deserving of being pitched around this series.
The Sox tacked on a couple more runs via two-out damage. In the fourth, Pablo Ozuna reached via a Gil Meche error. One of the harsher rulings this season, Meche couldn't find the handle on a pretty good bunt. After a walk to Cabrera, Alexei Ramirez bounced a single through the right side to score Pablo.
Jim Thome hit career homer No. 519 to give the Sox their final run. It went about 130 feet shorter than his previous blast, but it counted the same.
Nick Masset allowed a solo homer to Mark Teahen starting out the ninth, but it's better than a walk with a five-run lead in the ninth.
Record: 33-26 |
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