Kansas City, Mo. ? All year long, they could do almost nothing wrong. Now, the Chicago White Sox hardly can do anything right – and they could be in trouble.

“We’re playing lousy baseball on the bases, pitching, everything,” manager Ozzie Guillen said Thursday after the Kansas City Royals emerged with a 7-5 victory over the mistake-prone White Sox. “There’s no doubt about it. We really flat-out stink. It’s not the same team I’ve been watching all year.”

The White Sox have lost six of seven, including back-to-back setbacks against a Kansas City team that has the worst record in the majors. Their lead over Cleveland in the AL Central that stood at 91â2 games Sept. 7 has shrunk to 41â2.

The White Sox committed two costly base-running blunders and gave up a season-high eight doubles to the Royals, who lost to Chicago the first 10 times they played this year.

It was also another shaky outing for Mark Buehrle (15-8), who is 5-5 in the second half of the season.

Kansas City's Zack Greinke delivers during the first inning of the Royals' 7-5 victory over the White Sox. The Royals won Thursday at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

“Ever since the All-Star break, it seems like I haven’t had too many good games. It’s frustrating,” said Buehrle. “We’ve still got six games with Cleveland. And the way that they’re playing, they could sweep us right now. If we keep on playing like we’re playing, we’re not going to the playoffs. We’ll be home on Oct. 3.”

The White Sox held a seemingly commanding 15-game lead as late as Aug. 1. The Indians haven’t been this close since April 20.

“If I named all that I’m disappointed about, we might be here all day,” Guillen said. “The entire week was disappointing. Even the game we won, I was disappointed. If we continue to play like this, good luck.”

John Buck hit a two-run double to key a four-run seventh inning for the Royals.

Ambiorix Burgos (2-5) got the victory in relief of starter Zack Greinke, going 11â3 innings and giving up two runs.

Buehrle (15-8) went 61â3 innings for the White Sox and was charged with four runs on nine hits, with two walks and three strikeouts.

Greinke managed to avoid becoming the major leagues’ first 17-game loser.

• 6Sports video: Royals rout White Sox (09-15-05)

“I got bailed out by the defense and by bad base-

running,” he said.

Notes: Jermaine Dye leads AL right fielders with 28 home runs. … Scott Podsednik, caught trying to steal second base in the first inning, has been thrown out a major league-leading 21 times.