Chicago ? While the Chicago White Sox fade, the Kansas City Royals aren’t ready to give up.

Rondell White hit a two-run homer, and Aaron Guiel drove in three runs as the Royals sent the White Sox to another lopsided loss, 10-4, Sunday.

“Right from the get-go, this team’s shown courage,” Royals manager Tony Pena said. “This team is going to play hard the whole year. That’s the point. The season’s not over. There’s still a week to go.”

Chicago (81-74), which trailed 4-0 before it came to the plate, has dropped eight of 11, falling 51/2 games behind first-place Minnesota (87-69). It is the largest deficit in the AL Central for the White Sox since July 22.

“This was just another game where we came out not intense,” said Chicago second baseman Tony Graffanino, who made two of his team’s three errors.

“I don’t know if it has been only the last two games. It’s been a weird thing. We have it for a little while, and it fades away, so it’s been interesting. I just don’t think we are bringing what we have in here out there every day.”

Kansas City, which has won seven of nine, is tied with the White Sox for second place with seven games left.

“It’s disappointing to see us play this way at this time of year,” White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said.

Darrell May (10-7) allowed four runs and six hits in eight innings, retiring 14 of 15 batters during one stretch, starting in the fourth inning.

Kansas City's Aaron Guiel rips a double in front of Chicago catcher Miguel Olivo, left, in the first inning. The hit scored Mike Sweeney and Raul Randa, and the Royals went on to win, 10-4, Sunday in Chicago.

May studied Brian Anderson, who pitched a five-hitter in a 7-1 win Saturday night.

“I tried to replicate,” May said. “I got ahead of batters, and my slider and changeup were working.”

Jon Garland (11-13) lasted just 2 2-3 innings, matching his shortest start this season. He allowed seven runs and six hits.

“It was very disappointing to have that type of performance today,” Manuel said. “Starting pitching sets the tone and didn’t set it very well.”

Angel Berroa led off the game with a walk and Carlos Beltran singled. Mike Sweeney and Joe Randa hit RBI singles, and Guiel hit a two-run double.

Magglio Ordonez had a sacrifice fly in the bottom half, but Kansas City made it 7-1 in the third. Sweeney scored from first when Raul Ibanez doubled and Graffanino threw wildly on the relay. Garland failed to back up the plate on the plate.

White hit a two-run homer later in the inning, chasing Garland.

“I expected more,” Manuel said. “There was times when he showed flashes of brilliance, but for the most part I expected him to be at a different level, and I still believe that he has the potential to do that.”

Garland was not available for comment after the game.

After Aaron Rowand’s RBI single in the bottom half, Kansas City opened a 9-2 lead in the sixth. Scott Schoeneweis hit Guiel with a pitch leading off the inning and shortstop Jose Valentin made a throwing error trying for a forceout on White’s grounder. Desi Relaford followed with a two-run single.

Guiel hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh, and Rowand had a two-run homer in the eighth.

Notes: May is 10-3 in his last 18 starts. … Four of Rowand’s five career hits off May have been homers.