Ozzie Guillen vowed there would be changes on the Chicago White Sox after their latest loss. One thing he doesn't want to change is their domination at home over the Kansas City Royals.
Looking to avoid their fourth loss in a row, the AL Central-leading White Sox begin a three-game series on Tuesday against the last-place Royals, who will try to snap an eight-game road skid.Guillen was left fuming Sunday after Gabe Gross' homer off Matt Thornton gave Tampa Bay its second walk-off win in three days, 4-3 in 10 innings. Chicago (30-26) also lost 2-1 on Friday on Cliff Floyd's homer to lead off the bottom of the ninth.
"Just get ready because I expect movement on Tuesday," Guillen said Sunday in an expletive-laced tirade. "I expect (general manager) Kenny (Williams) to do something Tuesday. Because if we don't do anything Tuesday, there's (going to be) a lot of change in the lineup."
The heart of the White Sox's order was a big reason why Chicago lost the final three games of the set as Carlos Quentin, Jermaine Dye, Jim Thome and Paul Konerko combined for one homer and two RBIs. The White Sox are near the bottom of the AL with a .247 batting average.
"It could be me. It could be (hitting coach) Greg Walker, the players, anybody," Guillen said when pressed on what changes may occur. "I'm sick and tired watching this for a year and a half. I'm not protecting anybody anymore."
Chicago is 14-8 against AL Central opponents this season, and facing Kansas City (23-34) at U.S. Cellular Field could help calm Guillen. Since Sept. 25, 2004, the White Sox are 23-7 at home against the Royals, batting .264 with 43 homers - including seven by Konerko and five from Juan Uribe.
Gavin Floyd (5-3, 3.22 ERA) takes the mound for Chicago looking to win consecutive starts for the first time since April 5-12. He lost his only career start against Kansas City on Sept. 18.
With a 6-1 win over Cleveland on Sunday, the Royals took two of three from the Indians after a 12-game losing streak.
"We were a lot more loose and had a lot more energy and just kind of played more freely," said Alex Gordon, who had a two-run double. "Having that (streak) off our backs really helps."
Kansas City's Zack Greinke (5-2, 2.88) will try again for his first career win at U.S. Cellular Field. In six games there, including four starts, the right-hander is 0-4 with a 5.29 ERA and has pitched more than seven innings only once.
Greinke also will try to post his first road win over an AL team since April 14. He's 1-2 with a 5.09 ERA in four starts away from home since winning at Seattle on April 14 with the lone victory coming May 18 against Florida.
Kansas City has since been outscored 49-16 during its eight-game road losing streak.
On Thursday, Greinke threw a career-high 117 pitches with eight strikeouts in eight innings in Kansas City's 9-8, 10-inning loss to Minnesota.
