120

And the hits just keep on comin'. At least they did last night, as the White Sox collected 17 of them in thrashing the Royals, 11-2. Every Sox starter garnered at least one hit -- Alexei Ramirez, A.J. Pierzynski, and Josh Fields each had three; Paul Konerko and Brian Anderson each had two -- and scored at least one run. Jermaine Dye contributed a home run, his 13th of the season, to straightaway center.

Clayton "Go Blue" Richard contributed a Quality Start, extending the Sox starters' streak (say that three times fast) of allowing fewer than four earned runs to 11 games. Richard picked up his second win against no losses by limiting the Royals to two runs, on six hits and a walk -- he struck out seven -- in seven innings of work. He was locating his pitches well, throwing 62 of 92 for strikes. Octavio Dotel and Jimmy Gobble each added a scoreless inning to preserve the win.

Last night's game fit the formula for Sox success. The team is 19-6 when holding the opposition to fewer than four runs; 19-7, hitting a home run; 18-6, getting a Quality Start; 18-5, scoring more than three runs; 17-5, scoring first; 16-2, outhitting the other team; 15-11, committing no errors; 11-2, getting double-digit hits; and 10-7 in the first game of a series. Most of those seem pretty obvious, but it's fun to trot out the stats anyway.

On the personnel front, the Sox made a series of moves:

• They traded Lance "Now He'll Be Much Closer to" Broadway to the Mets for backup catcher Ramon Castro. Castro is batting .253 and throwing out would-be base stealers at a 42.9% rate. Castro bats right-handed, so he can spell A.J. when there's a lefty on the mound. Mark Gonzalez of The Tribune speculates that the Sox may have ideas of dumping A.J., who attains full no-trade status part way through 2010 to pave the way for Tyler "Catcher of the Future" Flowers to take over. Castro gives them a reliable option if Flowers struggles.
• Obviously, with Casto on board, Corky Miller becomes expendable, and the Sox designated him for assignment. Farewell, Corky. We hardly knew ye.
• To replace Broadway, the Sox promoted Wes Whisler (no jokes about paintings of his mother; even we wouldn't stoop that low) from Charlotte. Whisler, who was 5-3 with a 2.81 ERA in 10 starts for the Knights, looks to be a short-timer, though. That's because ...
• Jose Contreras is expected to be called up to start one of the games of the June 8 double-header. No Way Jose has posted a 3.04 ERA in Charlotte and is said to have regained control of his forkball, or splitter, or whatever pitch it is he was bouncing 10 feet in front of home plate before being sent down. We'll be happy if Contreras bounces back. We like him; we just don't like how he was pitching.
• Carlos Quentin is on the DL, but is slated to return as soon as June 10, when he becomes eligible. At least he's not there because of a self-inflicted wound this time.
• With Q out, the Sox brought up Dewayne Wise, erstwhile leadoff man and center-fielder. Wise, who recovered quicker than expected from his separated shoulder, got into last night's game as a pinch runner for Paulie. He wound up getting caught stealing home. We didn't see it so we don't know what happened, but the box score lists it that way and it wasn't a pickoff, since the play went from pitcher to catcher. If you were watching, enlighten us.

With the win and the Tigers' loss, the Sox are only 4.0 games out of first place in the Central Division, and the Magic Number is 120. By comparison, Detroit's Magic Number is 120. Mark Buehrle gets the chance to extend the starters' streak tonight, and the Sox attempt to win the first two games of a series for the fourth time in a row. Go Sox!