e out three months. RHP Ronald Belisario will close out W

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- On paper, it didnt look like a good matchup for Jeremy Guthrie. The Kansas City Royals starter had yielded an American League high 12 home runs and the Chicago White Sox rank second in the AL with 52 long balls. The right-hander didnt get the win, but he beat the odds. Guthrie, Wade Davis and Greg Holland combined on a four-hitter and the Kansas City Royals rallied in the eighth inning to beat the Chicago White Sox 3-1 Wednesday night and avoid being swept in their three-game series. "I try to win and try not to give up home runs," Guthrie said. "You tell me how Im doing. Ive got 12 home runs and two wins. So I guess Im not doing so hot on either." The White Sox had scored 14 runs and hit five home runs in the first two games. "Today was more defence and pitching," Guthrie said. "They hit for power, which is obviously dangerous anytime when you have a chance to leave the yard. It makes it tough to pitch to them." Guthrie, who is winless in seven starts since an April 9 victory over Tampa Bay, left after seven innings with the score 1-1. He gave up three hits, walked two and struck out two. "He just moves the ball in and out," White Sox third baseman Conor Gillaspie said. "Guthrie throws a lot of pitches out of the zone and it seemed like he does it on purpose, but not really today. We just kept swinging at it." Guthrie credited his fastball for his success against the White Sox. "I thought the fastball was used effectively to both sides of the plate to all the hitters. ..." he said. "My mindset was to throw strikes and get deep into the game." Wade Davis (3-1) struck out two in a flawless eighth and has tossed 10 scoreless innings in his last nine appearances. Greg Holland logged his 13th save in 14 chances, but not before giving up a single to Dayan Viciedo and walking Adam Dunn in the ninth. "It makes everybodys job easier when you have Wade and Holland and the way theyre thrown the ball all season long," Guthrie said. The Royals snapped a 1-1 tie in the eighth when Nori Aoki scored on Billy Butlers sacrifice fly. Aoki started the one-out rally with a bunt single on a two-strike count. He advanced to third on Alcides Escobars single. Eric Hosmer was walked intentionally to load the bases, and Aoki scored on Butlers fly to right. "Thats actually the first time in my entire baseball career Ive bunted with two strikes," Aoki said. "I was actually pretty nervous. Pedro (Grifol, hitting coach) convinced me to do it. I guess I have a pretty high chance of getting a bunt down, so it doesnt really matter what the count is. Im glad I was able to do that today." Danny Valencia then walked on five pitches, scoring Escobar with the second run of the inning. Paul Konerko, who leads all active visiting players with 149 RBIs at Kauffman Stadium, singled to left in the second to score Alexei Ramirez for the Chicagos run. The Royals tied it in the third when Aokis groundball single to left scored Pedro Ciriaco. The Royals wasted a chance to take the lead in the fourth when they loaded the bases with one out on singles by Butler, Valencia and Lorenzo Cain. Ciriaco, however, rolled the first pitch back to the mound and left-hander Jose Quintana started an inning ending double play. Quintana (2-4) took the loss, charged with three runs on eight hits over 7 1-3 innings. "I feel a little bit sad for no win," Quintana said. "It was a really hard game. We won the series and well get ready for the next game. I think next time itll be better for me. I dont get frustrated. I only have control to pitch a good game." NOTES: RHP Matt Lindstrom, who tops the White Sox with six saves, will have left ankle surgery to repair a torn sheath Friday and is expected to be out three months. RHP Ronald Belisario will close out White Sox games in Lindstroms absence. . White Sox LHP Chris Sale will come off the disabled list Thursday and start against the Yankees, his first outing since April 17. . The Royals 20 home runs rank last in the majors. Hydro Flask Wide Mouth . -- The Atlanta Braves are facing the possibility of losing another pitcher for the season after general manager Frank Wren said Saturday that Cory Gearrin has a serious injury to his right elbow. Hydro Flask Ombre . The R&A announced Monday that golfs oldest championship will return to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland for the first time since Max Faulkner won in 1951. http://www.sverigehydroflask.com/. 3 seed Phillip Kohlschreiber from Germany. Defending champion Marin Cilic also reached the semifinals -- his fourth in Zagreb -- defeating fellow Croat Ivan Dodig. German qualifier Bjorn Phau beat Dudi Sela of Israel to reach his first semifinals in nearly five years. Hydro Flask Kaffe . -- Jonathan Diaz is easy to spot in the Blue Jays clubhouse. Hydro Flask 32 OZ . Curlings version of the Ryder Cup will introduce a new format beginning with the 2015 event, set for Jan. 8 to 11 in Calgary, as itll be Team Canada taking on Team Europe this season and in the 2017 event, while itll be Team Canada against Team World (including the U.VANCOUVER - At six foot five and 325 pounds, Peter Dyakowski fits in nicely when it comes to the supersized world of pro football.Caterpillar would have a hard time moving the Hamilton Tiger-Cats offensive lineman.But the big man couldnt help but be envious of pint-sized teammate Brandon Banks on the trip out to the Grey Cup.I like being a big guy but we were flying out on the plane (Tuesday), we were eating our dinner and all the O-lineman were like this, said Dyakowski, mimicking eating in a scrunched-up position.And Brandons sitting back, enjoying a nice relaxed dinner in this giant chair that he gets to sit in, with all the space in the world. I guess sometimes hes got a leg up on us.Banks is listed at five foot seven and 153 pounds. But pressed by reporters, the kick returner/receiver known as Speedy or Speedy-B admits to some poetic licence.Ive always been the smallest guy and I honestly probably weigh 149 pounds, he said after practice Wednesday at B.C. Place Stadium.While it is home to all body types, the Canadian Football League is still a game of giants. Reporters scattered when a passing play neared the sideline Wednesday. The Hamilton players, wearing shoulder pads and helmets, were not going at full speed but still managed to make like a thundering herd.Amidst the blunt instruments, Banks cut through like a scalpel. An elegant runner, he can change gears in an instant — like a car with a nitrous oxide system.I just feel any time I touch the ball, I have the possibility of going the distance, he said.He did that twice on electric punt returns last weekend — three times if you count a 78-yard runback for a score that was called back due to a penalty — in Hamiltons 40-24 Eastern final win over the Montreal Alouettes.Banks had five punt returns for a playoff-record 226 yards. His two TD returns — which covered 93 and 88 yards — also tied a playoff mark. The North Carolina native had three carries for 35 yards and four catches for 33 yards to finish with 294 total yards.His second TD return was a marvel as he left Als players twisting in the wind.It was almost like Casper the Ghost because it looks like we were just grasping for air and he wasnt there, said Montreal coach Tom Higgins.Brandon Banks is absolutely a special player. He just has a gift, said Ticats slotback Luke Tasker. Thats all there iis to it.ddddddddddddWith kickers penalized for punting the ball out of bounds other than within the 20-yard line, it is hard to escape Banks.Is his size an advantage, he was asked?It has its pros and cons, he said. Because when I get hit, it dont feel good.But it does have a little bit of advantage. Ive got a little bit of wiggle with me to get away from bigger guys.One opponent he relishes seeing in his sights is the kicker — usually the last man to beat, a pylon in opposition colours.Thats the best thing. Thats like Christmas morning for me, he said with a laugh.Banks, 26, spent three years as a returner for the Washington Redskins but came north last year after the NFL team did not tender the restricted free agent an offer.I dont think I got a fair shake, he said of his time in the NFL. I dont think I got an opportunity to show my wide receiver skills.NFL rule changes also reduced the role of a returner on kickoffs.But everything happens for a reason, said Banks, who is due to become a free agent after Sundays championship game. Im glad to be here.It has all added to the size of the chip on Banks shoulder. He has been doubted at every level of football.Hamilton coach Kent Austin says he continues to be surprised by what Banks can do on the field.Hes really, really competitive, and he plays with a lot of confidence, you know. But some of the things that he does on the field, yeah, obviously you cant coach. Were just lucky to have a guy with that kind of talent.Now, that being said, I dont think hes going to surprise Calgary. I mean, theyre really good on defensive special teams. They cover well. And weve got a big challenge in front of us to continue to hold blocks and give Brandon a chance.But hes just a really talented young man thats always had to overcome the Im not big enough talk, and too small to play, not strong enough, all of those things, yet he continues to break tackles, make plays, and gets the ball in the