Royals’ Big Rally Stops White Sox

With only five runs in their previous four games and their frustrated owner promising to shake things up, the Kansas City Royals staged a memorable ninth-inning rally Friday night at Chicago.

And now they have two road wins in a row after losing their first 12 away from home.

“Whenever you score three or four runs off those guys anytime in the game, it’s something special,” Matt Stairs said after his two-run, bases-loaded single capped a four-run ninth inning that led the Royals to a 5-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

“It’s good when you’ve got seven wins,” Stairs added.

And that’s what the Royals have now to go with 20 losses. And three of those victories have come against the defending World Series champions, but none more satisfying than Friday’s.

“There is no easy team in baseball. They got speed and they pitched well against us,” Chicago Manager Ozzie Guillen said after his team lost for only the fifth time in 24 games this season.

“With [Manager] Buddy Bell, those guys are not going to give up. I know what type of manager he is. I know what type person he is. He is not going to let those guys down. He’s not going to sit there and let those guys relax. He’s going to be pushing all the way to the end.”

Kansas City’s victory came after frustrated owner David Glass promised some changes.

The Royals won their first road game Thursday night by beating the Twins, 1-0.

Cleveland 9, Seattle 4 -- Aaron Boone hit a tiebreaking double and Jake Westbrook won for the first time since April 9, leading the Indians over the Mariners at Seattle.

Jason Michaels and Eduardo Perez homered for the Indians, who lead the majors with 198 runs, an average of 6.6 a game.

Tampa Bay 3, Oakland 1 -- Scott Kazmir won for the third time in four starts and the Devil Rays stopped an 11-game losing streak in Oakland.

Kazmir (4-2), who has won four of five decisions dating to an opening-day loss at Baltimore, gave up one run and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings, struck out four and walked two.

Boston 6, Baltimore 3 -- Curt Schilling moved into a tie for the American League lead with his fifth victory and David Ortiz put the host Red Sox ahead with a three-run double, leading Boston to the victory.

Schilling (5-1) gave up three runs and eight hits in seven innings. He struck out five and didn’t walk a batter.

Detroit 9, Minnesota 6 -- Magglio Ordonez, Craig Monroe and Brandon Inge homered and the Tigers beat the host Twins for the fourth consecutive time and won for the seventh time in eight games overall.

New York 8, Texas 7 -- Mike Mussina (5-1) gave up only three hits in seven-plus innings, Alex Rodriguez drove in three runs and the Yankees took an 8-1 lead in ending the Rangers’ six-game winning streak at Arlington, Texas.