White Sox Fight, Fall from First

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Aug 4, 2008 4:59PM

The White Sox limp home after a 10-game road trip that most certainly did not end on a high note Sunday. The team lost 14-3 to the lowly Kansas City Royals, in a game that saw a bench clearing brawl and numerous ejections.

With the bases loaded, Sox pitcher D.J. Carrasco hit the Royals' Miguel Olivo with a pitch, which the ump called intentional. That lead to the melee, and the ejection of both Carrasco and Ozzie Guillen. After reviewing the tape, the umpires did change their opinion of the intent and apologized to the White Sox coaching staff after the game.

Even worse, the loss dropped the club out of first place for the first time since May 16. The Sox were clinging to a narrow half-game lead in the AL Central after losing three of four against the Twins, but after losing the weekend series in KC, the team finished their road trip with a 4-6 record. The White Sox are now in second place, a half-game behind Minnesota.

Can home cooking right the ship for the Sox? The team takes the field at the Cell for 16 of their next 19 games, where they've won better than 2/3 of their games so far this season. The next couple weeks will be critical if they hope for a place in the postseason.

AP Photo/Ed Zurga