Buehrle Back to Winning

Even if he tried, Mark Buehrle couldn’t forget how long it had been since he won a game.

If he did, Chicago White Sox fans were always there to remind him.

The left-hander hopes both streaks -- the losing and booing -- ended with the White Sox’s 4-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Monday night at Chicago.

“I just didn’t want these fans booing me anymore,” he said after winning for the first time in 13 starts. “It’s been 2 1/2 months since I’ve had a win. I’ve had some decent starts. The offense just wasn’t there.”

It was against the Red Sox. But it took a while.

Joe Crede hit a three-run homer and the White Sox capitalized on the Red Sox’s shaky bullpen, which blew a lead for Pedro Martinez.

The White Sox, held to one run in five innings against Martinez, broke through in a three-run sixth against Ryan Rupe (1-1). Martinez was making his second start since coming off the disabled list and left after 71 pitches.

Rupe retired the first two batters in the sixth before walking Jose Valentin and giving up a single to Paul Konerko. Crede then connected for his sixth home run, giving the White Sox a 4-2 lead.

That was all Buehrle (3-10) needed.

“You have to tip your hat to this offense for battling against Pedro,” said Buehrle, a 19-game winner last season. “Then the bullpen came in and we took advantage of it.”

Buehrle retired 15 of 16 batters after giving up a homer to Manny Ramirez in the third inning. Buehrle gave up two runs -- one earned -- and four hits in eight innings for his first win since April 10. He lost his previous nine decisions.

Kansas City 9, Minnesota 8 -- Raul Ibanez singled home Carlos Beltran in the ninth inning and the Royals blew an eight-run lead and still beat the Twins at Kansas City, Mo.

Mike Sweeney homered and drove in five runs as the Royals took an 8-0 lead after six.

The Twins scored two in the seventh, three in the eighth and three in the ninth against closer Mike MacDougal to tie the score.

On Ibanez’s winning single to right, Beltran barely slid safely under the tag after a strong throw from Dustan Mohr.