Royals Rout White Sox, 9-2

Monday, April 8th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ Chuck Knoblauch snapped an 0-for-16 skid with a two-run double in the seventh inning, sending Jeff Suppan and the Kansas City Royals over the Chicago White Sox 9-2 Sunday.

A day after Kansas City lost 14-0 to the White Sox, Suppan (1-0) held them to one run on six hits and no walks in seven innings. The only run he allowed came on Frank Thomas' broken-bat homer in the first.

The Royals took a 3-1 lead into the seventh before breaking it open against three relievers.

Brent Mayne and Donnie Sadler opened the inning with singles and moved up on Thomas' throwing error at first base. Knoblauch's one-hop double to the left-center wall made it 5-1.

Joe Randa capped the burst with a three-run double. The big hit came after Michael Tucker was walked intentionally.

White Sox starter Todd Ritchie (0-1), who pitched a one-hitter against the Royals last July while with the Pittsburgh Pirates, had retired 12 straight batters entering the sixth.

The Royals scored twice off Ritchie in the sixth for a 3-1 lead. Neifi Perez led off with a triple and Carlos Beltran was hit by a pitch. Mike Sweeney had an RBI groundout and Tucker singled home a run.

Left-hander Damaso Martie replaced Ritchie and struck out Raul Ibanez to end the inning.

The Royals made it 1-all in the second on Mayne's sacrifice fly.

Thomas had a sacrifice fly in the eighth.