White Sox End Losing Streak, 3-1

Mark Buehrle had more trouble getting out of the way of balls hit up the middle than with the Kansas City hitters.

Buehrle pitched eight strong innings and Joe Crede drove in two runs as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Royals, 3-1, Sunday to end a four-game losing streak.

Buehrle was struck in the right triceps by Reggie Sanders’ comebacker to end the fourth, and Shane Costa’s grounder ricocheted off the pitcher’s right leg in the sixth.

“My leg cramped up in the eighth inning,” Buehrle said. “It was like getting an elbow to the knee. I wanted to go back out and finish it, but it was best to let the bullpen finish it.”

Buehrle (1-0) gave up six singles, walked one and struck out one. The Royals did not have a runner reach second base until the seventh inning.

White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen was happy to see a well-pitched game after his club had a 6.20 earned-run average in the first six games.

“He’s my ace,” Guillen said. “He’s been doing that for a long time. When things are going tough, he came up big. I’ve got a lot of confidence in him. Hopefully, the rest of my starters will follow him. Buehrle stepped up big today.”

The White Sox took a 2-0 lead in the second. Jermaine Dye walked with one out and advanced to third on A.J. Pierzynski’s single to center. Crede’s broken-bat double to left scored both.

Jim Thome homered deep into the left-field seats with two out in the eighth inning against Scott Elarton (0-2). It was the third of the season for Thome, the only White Sox player to homer.

Chicago avoided its first 1-5 start since 2001 as Buehrle improved to 13-6 against the Royals. The only team he has more wins against is Minnesota, with 15.