Royals 7, White Sox 2
Melky Cabrera and Billy Butler homered to propel Kansas City to a 7-2 win over visiting Chicago on Thursday night, mathematically eliminating the White Sox from playoff contention.
The Royals broke open a tight game in the sixth inning against Mark Buehrle (11-9), with Butler following Cabrera's fourth hit of the night by driving a 0-1 pitch over the center-field wall for a three-run homer to make it 6-2.
Cabrera, who went 4-for-5, hit a solo homer in the first as the Royals grabbed a 2-0 lead. He improved to 17-for-27 in his career against Buehrle, who has allowed 21 runs in 15 September innings.
Jeff Francis (6-16) worked six innings for the win, scattering eight hits while walking two and striking out two. Buehrle allowed six runs, five of them earned, on 13 hits in six innings.
The White Sox, losers of five straight, loaded the bases with nobody out in the sixth but managed just one run on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Flowers. Chicago catcher A.J. Pierzynski singled during the frame for his 1,500th career hit.