KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Andre Rienzo started playing baseball in Brazil because his mother played softball. He fell in love with it even though all the kids around him were kicking around a soccer ball. On Wednesday night, he may have inspired other youngsters back home to pick up a glove. The White Sox rookie pitched six innings and took advantage of a five-run frame highlighted by Dayan Viciedos grand slam for a 5-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals. It gave Rienzo the first win for a pitcher from his South American country where baseball is nary a second thought. "Brazil is just about soccer. Im trying to open doors," explained Rienzo, whose brothers also play baseball back home. "Its all soccer, soccer, soccer. I hope that I will open doors and people will see more guys playing baseball." Rienzo (1-0) allowed only a sacrifice fly to Mike Moustakas while slicing through a scuffling Royals lineup. The right-hander allowed just five hits and two walks in helping the White Sox win their season-best fifth straight game. Addison Reed worked the ninth for his second save of the series and 33rd on the year. "Again, its just one of those nights where he battled," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of Rienzo, who earned his first career win in his fifth big league start. "He gave up a couple walks but he was able to fight his way out of it, get a groundball when he needed it. Just a good, gutsy job by him. Once you get him that lead, he just kind of worked it." Viciedos grand slam off Jeremy Guthrie (12-10) in the fourth followed an RBI single by Adam Dunn that had given the White Sox the lead. Their five runs in the frame matched the number of runs the Royals woeful offence had mustered in the previous 22 innings. David Lough drove in another run for the Royals in the sixth, but that was all they managed in another lacklustre offensive performance. They finished with six hits on the night. The Royals were shut out by John Danks and the White Sox bullpen in the series opener, and their inability to get anybody home has been the biggest reason theyve lost four straight and seven of their last nine. That calamitous slide has dropped Kansas City from wild-card contention after climbing within four games of the final spot just over a week ago. "We have just not played well. Theres no rhyme or reason," designated hitter Billy Butler said. "In 162 games its going to happen. Were in a tough stretch and were just not hitting. Were not getting guys in when we have them in position." On this night, it was Rienzo who took a turn breezing through the Royals. The 25-year-old from Sao Paulo, one of just two Brazilians in the big leagues, didnt allow a hit until back-to-back singles in the fourth. He allowed another in the fifth and two in the sixth. Otherwise, he was basically untouchable -- just as he had been in the minors. After rocketing through two levels last season, Rienzo began catching the eye of White Sox brass at Triple-A Charlotte. He was 4-0 with a 1.23 ERA over his last four starts, including a no-hitter on July 25 -- just before his call-up to the big league team. Rienzos rise hasnt been without controversy, though. He was suspended for 50 games early last season after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. The smile on his face Wednesday night seemed to indicate that incident is long in the past. "Viciedo hit the grand slam. The defence played great. Im glad," Rienzo said. Guthrie wasnt feeling nearly as pleased in the Kansas City clubhouse. He threw 72 of 100 pitches for strikes, an exceptionally high rate, but couldnt get many hitters to miss them. After winning four straight, hes been savagely roughed up in his last three starts. He gave up five runs on 10 hits in a loss to Boston a couple weeks ago, and four runs on a career-high 13 hits at Detroit in another defeat his last time out. "I dug myself into a big hole," Guthrie said. "I made mistakes tonight." NOTES: Viciedo finished with three hits for Chicago. ... The White Sox optioned OF Blake Tekotte to Triple-A Charlotte after the game. Theyll make a corresponding roster move Wednesday. ... Guthrie threw a pitch in the second inning that slipped past C Salvador Perez and got lost in the padding around advertisements behind home plate. The exact same thing happened to a passed ball thrown by Royals RHP Ervin Santana the previous night. ... White Sox LHP Jose Quintana goes to the mound in the series finale on Thursday night. RHP James Shields gets the start for Kansas City.
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End of discussion.Prescott threw three touchdown passes , maybe three of the easiest scores the rookie will have in his career, and Ezekiel Elliott ran for two TDs as Dallas won its seventh straight, 35-10 on Sunday over the hapless Cleveland Browns.Prescott improved to 7-1 as a starter, and his latest performance has pushed Romo deeper into the background of what is developing into a special season for the Cowboys.Following the game, Dallas owner Jerry Jones was peppered with the usual questions about a quarterback situation that may never reach controversial levels.Prescott has the Cowboys rolling, and despite his love and loyalty toward the 36-year-old Romo, Jones, who has made rash decisions in the past, doesnt appear ready to make any moves.Weve got a great luxury and wonderful problem to have, Jones said. Weve got some real talent at our quarterback position. 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Hes done a great job.Prescott looks as if hes going to keep it for a while.KESSLER INJURED: Browns rookie Cody Kessler passed for 203 yards and threw a 12-yard TD pass to Terrelle Pryor in his first game back from a concussion.Kessler hurt his right leg in the second quarter, but finished the game and believes hell be ready to play Thursday night in Baltimore.ZEKE THE FREAK: Elliott rushed for 92 yards and has 891 this season, the third most by a rookie in league history after eight games.Only Adrian Peterson (1,036) and Eric Dickerson (995) have gotten off to a better start than Elliott, the former Ohio State star who enjoyed playing in front of some familiar faces.Ohio means a lot to me, kind of like a second home, he said. Just the memories I had here and the friends I made while at Ohio State and just the other things I accomplished at that great university. 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The two tangled away from the ball near Dallas sideline.I let my emotions get the best of me, said Erving, who did not speak with reporter but provided a comment to a team spokesman. Ill learn from this mistake and put it behind me.---For more NFL coverage:
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