White Sox Vs. Royals: Kansas City Walks Off Again

With two straight extra innings wins and three straight late-inning comebacks, the Kansas City Royals of 2011 just might have provided more excitement in one week than the 2010 Royals managed all season.

The first four hitters in the game scored for the Chicago White Sox before starter Luke Hochevar could record a single out, with Paul Konerko's three-run home run down the left-field line giving Chicago a 4-0 lead. The White Sox' lead was cut in half in the bottom half of the inning by Alex Gordon, who clubbed a fastball from Gavin Floyd into the center-field stands. A two-run single from Melky Cabrera tied the game in the second inning.

The teams exchanged two-run innings late. Alexei Ramirez tripled home a run and scored on a Mike Aviles error in the sixth inning, but the Royals were able to send the game into extra innings on a two-run homer from Billy Butler in the eighth inning. Chris Sale allowed the home run, marking the first blown save of his career.

Then came the Royals magic that everyone has come to expect in the past few years week. After six scoreless innings from the bullpen, Kansas City played small ball in the 12th inning. A Chris Getz single and a sacrifice bunt set up Cabrera, who singled up the middle off Tony Pena to seal the second straight home-plate celebration for the Royals. The game marked the fifth time in history that someone named "Tony Pena" contributed to a Royals win.