Aug 21, 2007 11:16 AM EST

White Sox closer Bobby Jenks entered the night needing only to sit down the first batter he faced to gain sole possession of the major-league record for consecutive batters retired.

Instead, on a 1-2 offering, slap-hitting Kansas City Royals outfielder Joey Gathright rolled a ground ball through the left side of the infield, adding even more disappointment in a summer of discontent for the Sox.

Jenks -- who now will share the record of 41 consecutive batters with San Francisco's Jim Barr (1972) -- did retire the next three to preserve the victory and pick up his 34th save in front of 35,391 at U.S. Cellular Field.

Via Chicago Sun-Times