A’s Maintain Their Lead; Royals Fall Back : Kansas City Goes Down, Maybe Out

During a streak that started in the middle of August, Mark Gubicza was the hottest pitcher in baseball. Almost single-handedly, he lifted the Kansas City Royals into the race in the American League West.

But Gubicza, who has pitched more innings than any other pitcher in the majors, is hurting. And, so are the Royals.

Gubicza, who has had a sore chest for three weeks, threw only 30 pitches Wednesday night at Kansas City, and the Chicago White Sox handed the slumping Royals a 7-2 defeat.

Melido Perez (11-13), a former Royal, won his fourth game in a row to drop the Royals 4 1/2 games behind Oakland in the West. The Royals, with only 10 games to play, are five games back in the loss column.

Gubicza, in winning five in a row, gave up only one earned run in 36 innings. But he left a game Texas on Sept. 12 after four innings with a pain in his chest. He has flopped in two starts since the injury.

He has pitched 255 innings, but in his 37th start he had nothing. He sneaked through the first inning, but put the first four batters on base in a six-run second inning that made it easy for Perez. He gave up two hits and four runs and walked three. When he walked Robin Ventura with the bases loaded he was gone.

Perez, who struck out nine, was in complete command after getting the big cushion.

He had plenty of support. Carlton Fisk hit his 12th home run and Ivan Calderon and Ozzie Guillen each drove in two runs in the second inning.

“We’re having fun against contenders,” Manager Jeff Torborg said. “We beat Baltimore four out of six and split four with the Angels. We’ve been playing well.”