Jim Thome’s two RBIs keep it close and White Sox score two in the ninth to beat Royals 5-3

Thome has two RBIs as Chicago beats the Royals 5-3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jim Thome drove in two runs and Scott Podsednik and Alexei Ramirez delivered RBI singles in the top of the ninth to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 5-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.

Chris Getz singled and Josh Fields walked with one out in the ninth off Juan Cruz (3-1). Podsednik then drove in the go-ahead run and Ramirez, with his third hit, made it 5-3 with another RBI hit.

Scott Linebrink (2-2) threw six pitches and got two outs in relief of Mark Buehrle and got the win, the eighth in 11 games for the White Sox.

Bobby Jenks pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 11 opportunities as the reeling Royals lost for the 15th time in 20 games.

After the White Sox sent six men to the plate to score one run and go ahead 3-2 in the eighth, Miguel Olivo tied it again at 3-all when he hit Buehrle’s first pitch of the bottom of the eighth for a home run. One out later, Linebrink came in.

Willie Bloomquist tripled to lead off the game for the Royals and sped home when Mitch Maier hit a high chopper to the left side.

With two out in the third, Bloomquist singled and came home on Maier’s triple.

Jermaine Dye tripled off the wall in center in the fourth and scored on Thome’s sacrifice fly. Getz had a sacrifice fly for the White Sox in the seventh.

Buehrle, facing Kansas City for the 39th time, went 7 1-3 innings and gave up three runs and seven hits. He struck out six and did not issue a walk for the third straight start, covering 21 1-3 innings.

Royals starter Gil Meche went seven innings in his strongest outing in more than a month. He gave up five hits and two runs with two walks and tied his season-best with seven strikeouts.

After Podsednik reached on an infield single leading eighth, Ramirez laid down what was probably supposed to be a sacrifice bunt, the ball rolling up the first-base line. Reliever John Bale picked it up and tossed to second baseman Alberto Callaspo covering the bag on what would have been a close play.

But first baseman Billy Butler, who had run in toward the ball, stuck his glove out and caught the ball even though he was several feet off the bag. Ramirez was safe, and Bale then walked Jermaine Dye, loading the bases, and the go-ahead run scored on Thome’s infield out.

Olivo entered the game in the third when catcher John Buck developed back spasms.