KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jake Peavy settled down after a rocky first inning and pitched into the ninth to win his third straight start, leading the Chicago White Sox past the Kansas City Royals 5-4 on Saturday night.
After the start was delayed 61 minutes by rain, Peavy (3-2) gave up a three-run double to Alberto Callaspo in the first inning and Billy Butler's homer in the third. But the right-hander allowed only three singles after that before he was pulled with one out in the ninth.
Matt Thornton got two outs for his first save of the season.
The White Sox, who rank last in the AL in hitting, batted around in a four-run seventh — with Ramon Castro's two-run single the key hit. It was Castro's first hit of the season in his seventh at-bat since coming off the disabled list May 3.
Royals starter Luke Hochevar held the White Sox to two hits and one run through the first six innings, retiring 11 in a row before Mark Kotsay's single with one out in the seventh. That started a parade of six straight White Sox reaching base — five singles and a walk. Juan Pierre's single scored Mark Teahen with the tying run. Gordon Beckham's single loaded the bases and chased Hochevar.
Andruw Jones' sacrifice fly off Brad Thompson scored Castro with the go-ahead run. The Royals have yielded 32 runs in the seventh inning this season.
Hochevar (3-2), who threw 26 pitches in the seventh while retiring only one, gave up five runs on seven hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings.
The Royals loaded the bases in the first when Mike Aviles singled, Butler walked and Jose Guillen was hit by a pitch. Callaspo, who has hit safely in 11 of his past 12 games, cleared the bases with a double to the left-field corner. Callaspo has 15 of his 25 RBIs with two outs.
Butler drove a 2-2 pitch from Peavy to left in the third.
Notes
Royals reliever Robinson Tejeda strained his left calf Friday and is day to day. Jones was back in the White Sox lineup after missing the previous two games with a stiff neck. Castro made his third start for the White Sox since coming off the DL. Chicago OF Carlos Quentin missed his second straight game with a stomach ailment. Royals OF David DeJesus played his 187th consecutive game without an error.