Adam Dunn showed signs of coming out of a season-long slump.The struggling slugger hit a clutch two-run homer in the eighth inning before a crazy finish gave the White Sox a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night. A.J. Pierzynski scored the winning run on a balk called on Aaron Crow in the ninth after the Royals had tied it on a homer first ruled a triple in the top of the inning. With the Royals trailing 4-3 in the ninth, Eric Hosmer led off with what appeared to be a homer off White Sox closer Sergio Santos (3-3). Second base umpire Alfonso Marquez signaled the ball was in play as Hosmer advanced to third. Royals manager Ned Yost contested the call, and the umpire reviewed it. Moments after the review, Marquez signaled a homer. Ramon Castro also hit a solo shot in the fifth for the White Sox, who have won five of its last six games. Pierzynski led off the ninth with a pinch-hit single off Crow (2-2) in the ninth, then advanced to second on Gordon Beckham’s sacrifice bunt. Pierzynski moved to third on a wild pitch, and after striking out Mark Teahen, Crow walked pinch-hitter Juan Pierre.With Dunn up and facing a 1-0 count, Pierzynski noticed Crow’s front shoulder move after he saw it, Pierzynski alerted the umpires and that prompted the players in the White Sox’s dugout to jump up and plate Ed Rapuano then called a balk, giving The Sox the win.

“He just came up a little bit,” Pierzynski said. “It wasn’t much, but I’ve seen it called a lot of times. I just saw his front shoulder [move], and then he realized and stepped off and didn’t think anyone saw it. No one reacted. It took a second for everyone to finally realize what he had done. It was a good way to win. Good comeback. I’m happy for Adam. It’s got to feel great for him, and Mark pitched well. It’s a big win.”

Yost argued the call with Rapuano before heading back to the dugout.

“He was adamant that it was a balk,” Yost said. “I’ve looked at the replay four or five times and I’m having a hard time seeing it. Eddie said that he turned his shoulder before he stepped off.”

Royals right fielder Jeff Francoeur didn’t appreciate Rapuano taking the game out of the players’ hands.

“I love Ed Rapuano and he’s one of my favorite [umpires], but you better be damn well sure if someone balks when you call a game on that,” said Francoeur, who homered. “It’s a shame because you’ve got an All-Star reliever up there, you’ve got Adam Dunn in the box, the crowd was going crazy. It’s a great atmosphere, and you’re going to call a balk to end the game. I just don’t see it. I’ve always respected Ed, he’s always done a great job, but to make that call in that situation, to me, that’s not right. I understand if he drops the ball or blatantly moves, but he’s calling him for flinching when he’s stepping back off the mound. What the hell are you supposed to do? How are you supposed to step off? It’s a disappointing call.”

After the game, the umpires declined an interview request.With Kansas City holding a 3-2 lead, Crow allowed a leadoff single to Brent Morel in the eighth and Dunn followed with his eighth homer of the season on a 1-1 pitch to right field to put the White Sox ahead 4-3.Dunn, who came in hitting .165, received a loud ovation from the 31,077 fans in attendance — prompting a curtain call. It was his first home run since June 12 against Oakland. He also passed Joe DiMaggio on the career list, putting him at 77 with 362 career homers.Earlier in the game, Dunn singled to right in the fourth inning, prompting a Bronx cheer from the fans. Dunn, acknowledged the crowd by tipping his helmet to the fans. But Dunn says he understands where the fans are coming from.Santos couldn’t hold the lead after allowing the homer to Hosmer in the ninth. It was Santos’ third blown save of the season. Mark Buehrle allowed three runs on seven hits over seven innings for the White Sox, who began a stretch of 19 consecutive games against AL Central division rivals. Last season, the Cubs finished 32-40 against AL Central opponents and are 7-11 against the division this season.Jeff Francis allowed two runs over on seven hits over six innings. He struck out four without allowing a walk for the Royals, who have lost six of seven.

WASHINGTON—This is the sort of return the Washington Nationals are expecting for their huge investment in Jayson Werth: the moxie to pull off a steal of third in the 10th inning at a time when his every mistake has been generating a round of boos.Moments after he stunned the ballpark by swiping the bag, Werth was crossing home plate with arms raised, his teammates headed his way to celebrate. Werth had scored on a wild pitch, and the fans that had been so hard on him the last few days were cheering his daring in a 5-4, Fourth of July matinee win over the Cubs. “Cheer me, boo me, whatever,” Werth said. “I’m still going to go out there and play my game.” Werth’s game was all over the place Monday. He was caught stealing second in the fourth. He struck out with two outs and the bases loaded when the score was tied in the seventh, the large holiday crowd deriding him during his walk back to the dugout. He had his first two-RBI game since May 31, but he knocked in one of those runs with a broken-bat single and the other with a groundout to first.Yet he also threw a runner out at home from right field to stifle a Cubs rally in the sixth. And then there was that eventful 10th.After drawing a leadoff walk off Marcos Mateo (1-2), Werth advanced on a sacrifice by pinch-hitting pitcher Livan Hernandez. Mateo left the game with an elbow injury and was replaced by Carlos Marmol. On Marmol’s first pitch to Ivan Rodriguez, Werth strolled to a big lead and took off.Marmol was given extra time to warm up when he unexpectedly got the call to come on for Mateo, who will return to Chicago to have an MRI, but the unusual circumstance made the Cubs closer ripe for the surprise from Werth.Marmol went on to uncork a 2-2 pitch that sailed way outside to Rodriguez. Werth scored. Game over. Another thriller. The Nationals’ last eight wins have been either by one run or in extra innings, and four of their last eight home games have been walkoff victories. They are outscoring teams 58-26 for the season in the ninth inning and later. Henry Rodriguez (3-1), pitched the 10th to get the win for the Nationals, who improved to 3-5 under Johnson and are back again at .500. But the other big numbers everyone have been noticing belong to Werth, who is in the first year of a seven-year, $126 million contract. He’s batting .224, including .167 since June 1. He has 10 home runs and 30 RBI.Werth played despite getting hit by a pitch on his left wrist Sunday. Johnson said he would have liked to rest the outfielder, but the Nationals also started without third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (sore abdomen) and first baseman Michael Morse (bruised forearm). The thin bench meant the manager had to use two off-day starting pitchers (Jason Marquis and Hernandez) as pinch hitters.The Cubs opened a seven-game road trip by ending a seven-game Nationals Park winning streak. Casey Coleman, who had a 7.78 ERA in his two previous stints with the Cubs this season, was recalled from the minors for the game after scheduled starter Ryan Dempster was hospitalized over the weekend with stomach and back pain.Coleman allowed three runs over 5 1/3 innings, one of them unearned following a booted groundball by first baseman Carlos Pena in the first inning.

NOTES—Quade said Dempster is day to day but is expected to make another start before the All-Star break…..To make room for Coleman, reliever Chris Carpenter was optioned to Triple-A Iowa…….Zimmerman was feeling sore in the abdominal area where he had surgery earlier this year. He was removed for a pinch runner immediately after he walked as a pinch hitter in the seventh. “Anything like that, I’m not taking a chance where he might reinjure that thing,” Johnson said……Morse has a bruised forearm after getting hit by a pitch Saturday night…..Nix played his first major league game at first base, moving from left field during a double switch in the seventh…..Kerry Wood mixed wildness with effectiveness. He walked in the run that tied the game in the seventh before striking out Werth. His final line: one inning, three walks, three strikeouts, one wild pitch, one hit batter.

The Cubs got another strong pitching performance Sunday. And this time, the lineup produced enough offense to salvage a victory in the three-game crosstown series. Rodrigo Lopez pitched seven shutout innings, Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run homer and the Cubs beat the White Sox 3-1 at Wrigley Field. Starlin Castro hit an RBI triple off Gavin Floyd in the fourth inning and Ramirez followed with a drive to center for his 12th homer. Castro had two hits on the same day he was selected for the All-Star Game. The White Sox captured the season series 4-2 with the Cubs’ victories coming against Floyd (6-8). The right-hander gave up six runs over five innings in a June 20 loss at U.S. Cellular Field. He yielded seven hits in seven innings Sunday, three of them coming in the fourth. The 35-year-old Lopez (1-2) surrendered infield singles to Mark Teahen in the third on a hard-hit ball that first baseman Carlos Pena stopped and Carlos Quentin in the fourth on a grounder deep into the hole at shortstop. But that was it. Lopez struck out three and walked none while throwing 75 pitches in his third start for the Cubs since he was acquired in a trade with the Braves in May. His efficient outing followed a four-hitter by Matt Garza in a 1-0 loss Saturday. The White Sox broke through in the eighth. Teahen and Gordon Beckham had consecutive one-out singles to put runners at the corners, and Teahen came home when Kerry Wood threw a wild pitch with pinch-hitter Paul Konerko at the plate. After Konerko worked a walk on a 3-2 pitch, Sean Marshall relieved and retired Juan Pierre on a popup. Carlos Marmol then struck out Alexei Ramirez on three pitches before working the ninth for his 17th save in 22 chances. AL All-Star Quentin started a relay from right field as the White Sox cut down a potential run in the third. Geovany Soto tried to score from first on Kosuke Fukudome’s double off the wall, but Quentin made a good throw to second baseman Beckham, whose strong peg to A.J. Pierzynski was in plenty of time to get the sliding Soto. The White Sox, trying to go over .500 for the first time since April 15, got the first two runners on against Lopez in the third, but Floyd bunted foul on a third strike and Pierre lined back to Lopez, who flipped to first to complete a double play.

NOTES—Ryan Dempster was scratched from his scheduled start Monday in Washington after spending Saturday night in the hospital with stomach problems and back pain. Dempster was back in the clubhouse Sunday and said he had some tests and some IV fluids but should be OK. Casey Coleman will be recalled from the minors to start against the Nationals. … Castro is the youngest player in Cubs history to be chosen for the All-Star team. He turned 21 this past March. … Although Konerko was left off the AL squad despite being a leader in numerous offensive categories with a .317 average, 21 homers and 62 RBI, he is on the final vote ballot. Konerko didn’t start Sunday as slumping Adam Dunn started at first and went 0 for 4. … Sunday’s announced attendance was a season-high 42,311 — the largest White Sox-Cubs crowd ever at Wrigley Field. The three-day attendance was 125,962, also the biggest for a three-game Sox-Cubs series at Wrigley. It also was the second largest attendance for a three-game series ever at Wrigley, surpassed by the 126,283 that came to watch the Yankees-Cubs last month.

Phil Humber had to make the White Sox’s roster in spring training. Then he was expected to be a rotation fill-in while Jake Peavy was on the disabled list. Now, he’s emerged as the team’s best starter.Humber pitched seven shutout innings Saturday and the Sox reached .500 for the first time since April 16, beating the Cubs 1-0.Humber got some good defense behind him and needed it in a duel with the Cubs’ Matt Garza, who gave up just four singles in a complete game.Garza held the White Sox hitless for 5 1/3 innings before Juan Pierre hit an RBI single in the sixth.

“I’m very fortunate,” Humber said after his first career appearance against the Cubs.

“I was behind in the count a lot and just was able to throw something down in the zone when I needed an out. They made some great plays,” he said.

“[Garza] was on his game. He’s got great stuff. We knew it was going to be tough against him, but our guys battled and scratched across a run.”

Humber (8-4) allowed five singles and is now 5-1 in his last six starts.

“If Phil Humber isn’t on the All-Star team – and he deserves to be on the All-Star team – then there shouldn’t be an All-Star game because he’s been that good for us, stepping in for guys who have been hurt and being the guy who’s pitched well for us from day one,” White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski said.

Cubs manager Mike Quade was ejected in the second inning for arguing a call at second on one of three double plays turned by the White Sox in the first three innings. Quade was tossed by second base umpire Paul Emmel after protesting that White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham didn’t touch the bag on a pivot before relaying to first.Matt Thornton pitched a perfect eighth and ninth for his third save in seven chances.

“I wasn’t too happy. One of those things I was out of the dugout when the play was developing,” Quade said. “I don’t manufacture stuff. To me I just thought he was way off the base. That shouldn’t be given.”

The White Sox have now beaten the Cubs 15 times in their last 20 meetings and are 4-1 this season.Beckham worked a walk leading off the sixth, moved up on Humber’s sacrifice and made it to third on Garza’s wild pitch. After a close 1-2 pitch was called a ball, Pierre slapped a single to left over a drawn-in infield for the White Sox’s first hit and the first run of the game.

“I thought it was inside, but I was definitely holding my breath when he made the call,” Pierre said.

“I was mad,” Garza said of the pitch that wasn’t called a strike. “Big situation, a big moment right there. I wanted that pitch. … I should have put Pierre away.”

Pierre said Garza was as tough as he’s ever seen him.Pierre, who’d been criticized for his uneven play this season, came up with his third key hit in three games. He delivered a tiebreaking single to spark an extra-inning win over Colorado on Thursday and had a go-ahead two-run triple Friday in the White Sox’s 6-4 victory. The Cubs grounded into double plays in each of the first three innings, spoiling any chance of an early offensive outburst against Humber.They got the first two runners on in the first and second innings only to be turned away. And then in the sixth, Darwin Barney led off with an infield single off Humber’s glove and Starlin Castro reached on a slow roller up the third baseline, again putting two runners on and no outs.Humber then retired Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Pena on pops, threw a wild pitch to advance the runners and then retired Marlon Byrd — who came off the disabled list before the game — on a grounder.Byrd returned to the lineup for the first time since he was hit near the left eye by a pitch from Boston’s Alfredo Aceves on May 21, causing multiple facial fractures.Byrd wore a protective flap over the left side of his batting helmet.He drew a four-pitch walk from Humber in his first at-bat in the second, following a leadoff single from Pena, who foiled a defensive shift with a bunt down the third base line. Byrd then rolled hard into Beckham who still got off the throw to first after Alfonso Soriano’s grounder to third. That brought Quade racing out of the dugout to argue.Castro hit into two double plays in the first three innings.

NOTES—Game-time temperature was 93 and it dropped 15 degrees in the first five innings with the wind blowing in….Adam Dunn got the start in right field in the NL Park. He went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts and is now 2 for 33 with 19 strikeouts over his last 10 games, with his average plummeting to .168. It was his second game in the outfield this season.Guillen said he may start Dunn at IB Sunday and give Paul Konerko the day off.

ROSEMONT—Re-acquired QB J.J Raternik and FB Johnie Kirton led a balanced offensive attack as the Rush defeated the Utah Blaze 59-35 to secure the team’s 11th win of the season as well as a playoff spot.Raternik, who was acquired after starting QB Russ Michna was placed on IR, was resilient in the pocket throughout the game going 19 of 33 and throwing four touchdowns for 281 yards with no turnovers. Kirton continued to add to his impressive season by rushing for three touchdowns for 46 yards. His play was pivotal down the stretch particularly in the fourth quarter as he helped the Rush grind out the Blaze for the victory. With 46 rushing yards in the game, Kirton broke head coach Bob McMillen’s record for rushing yards in a single game. The previous record was 41 yards.

“Johnie was a strong influence in the game tonight,” said head coach Bob McMillen. “He always provides our offense with a jumpstart.”

The game was a back and forth battle in the opening period as both offenses were exchanging touchdowns on every drive. Blaze WR Aaron Lesue scored two touchdowns in the first quarter. Lesue finished the game with 10 catches for 126 yards and three touchdowns. But the Rush wide receiving corps helped maintain the lead early. Reggie Gray played yet another consistent game with five catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns, while Charles Dillon and Derek Lee each had a touchdown reception as well.Utah was able to tie the game at 28-28 but it came at a price as QB Tommy Grady went down with an injury with 1:47 left in the 2nd quarter, which forced back-up QB Jordan Rasmussen to enter the game.The absence of Grady allowed the Rush defense to settle in and come up big against one of the highest scoring offenses in the league. Defensive backs Perry Kyles and Jason Simpson as well as jack linebacker Kelvin Morris came up with critical interceptions in the second half to allow the Rush to pull away and secure a victory. These three interceptions gave the Rush an AFL record of 48 takeaways.

“I was proud that we were able to hold them to just 35 points,” says Coach McMillen. “I owe a lot to Coach Housman. He called the right plays at the right time.”

The Rush (11-4) will head back on the road to take on the Georgia Force (9-6) Saturday, July 9th at 6:35 pm CT.The Pre-Game show with Les Grobstein is set for 6:20pm(CDT) here on arenarush.com and niftytv.com.

NATIONAL GUARD MVP: Johnie Kirton-CHI

RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: JJ Raterink-CHI

RIDDELL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Perry Kyles-CHI

JLS IRONMAN: Johnie Kirton-CHI

NIFTY PLAYMAKER OF THE GAME: Derek Lee-CHI

CUTTER CATCH OF THE GAME: Derek Lee’s 1st touchdown reception in the 3rd quarter

SPALDING HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME: Perry Kyles 3rd quarter interception

Juan Pierre has been booed and benched.He has dropped fly balls and struggled at the plate, but maybe now, his misery is ending.The veteran outfielder delivered his second go-ahead hit in two games, Alexei Ramirez knocked a two-run homer, and the Chicago White Sox rallied to beat the crosstown Cubs 6-4 Friday in the opener of their weekend series.Ramirez connected in the seventh and Pierre added a two-run triple in the inning, turning a two-run deficit into a two-run lead and sending the White Sox to their third straight win.The Cubs came up short again in their quest to win three straight after pulling out dramatic victories the previous two days against San Francisco. They remain the only team in the majors without a three-game winning streak. Just when it appeared they might get one, it slipped away.”I thought today was the day,” said the Cubs’ Aramis Ramirez, who hit his 300th homer.His solo shot in the sixth off Edwin Jackson (5-6) made it 4-2, but the White Sox immediately responded in a big way against Randy Wells (1-3).A.J. Pierzynski led off the seventh with a single, and Alexei Ramirez tied it with his eighth homer. The White Sox weren’t finished.Alex Rios singled and Adam Dunn, batting for Jackson, walked with one out. Pierre, who has struggled this season, made it 6-4 when he drove in both runners with a triple to the right-field corner, chasing Wells.That gave Pierre five RBI in two games. He also had the tiebreaking two-run single in the 10th inning in the White Sox’s win over Colorado on Thursday and is 10 for 23 over his last five games, raising his average from .248 to .262. Whether that will quiet calls for the White Sox to part ways with Pierre and call up Dayan Viciedo is another issue, but the recent surge has probably only strengthened the resolve of his manager to keep him.The big rally gave Jackson his first win in five weeks. The right-hander wasn’t exactly dominant, allowing four runs and five hits in six innings, but he’ll take it after going 0-1 in his previous five starts.Brian Bruney pitched a scoreless seventh. Jesse Crain worked the eighth, and Sergio Santos closed it out in the ninth for his 18th save in 20 opportunities. Wells, winless since April 4, allowed six runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.He gave up two runs in the first, but the Cubs got one back in the second and two more in the third on an RBI double by Darwin Barney and sacrifice fly by Aramis Ramirez, making it 3-2.Ramirez added to it with one out in the sixth when he drove his 11th homer and second in two days out to left, but things quickly unraveled for Wells and the Cubs.

NOTES—The Cubs placed starter Carlos Zambrano on the 15-day disabled list because of soreness in his lower back and activated reliever Kerry Wood….   Cubs SS Starlin Castro made a highlight reel play in the third when he dove to his right to snag Brent Morel’s hard smash and, from the outfield grass, fired to first…..Cubs GM Jim Hendry said OF Marlon Byrd might rejoin the team this weekend. He’s been out since May 21 with facial fractures sustained when he was beaned by Boston’s Alfredo Aceves…..RHP Andrew Cashner, on the 60-day DL with a strained right rotator cuff, said he’s about 90 percent healed and expects to start throwing in 10 days. He has not set a target date for his return but said there is “no doubt in my mind” he will pitch again this season.Cubs manager Mike Quade said Marcos Mateo will probably need at least two and ideally three days of rest after tossing five scoreless innings in relief against San Francisco on Thursday….Guillen said Dunn could start at first base or right field this weekend…..The White Sox have won 18 of 19 interleague series, including nine straight on the road.