CHICAGO (AP) — Felipe Paulino struck out nine in six innings for his first victory in more than a year and the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 5-3 on Tuesday night.
Alcides Escobar hit a two-run triple and Matt Treanor had a tiebreaking single for the Royals, who beat Jake Peavy to win for the fifth time in 19 games.
Paulino (1-2) was acquired from Colorado for cash on May 26 after starting the season 0-5. He allowed three runs and scattered nine hits while walking two on 120 pitches.
It was Paulino’s first win since June 4, 2010, against the Chicago Cubs. He finished last season 1-9.
For the second time in a week, the White Sox failed to break the .500 barrier. They have not been above .500 since April 15, when they were 7-6.
Paul Konerko hit a solo home run and had three hits for the White Sox, who are 7-12 against AL Central opponents. On Monday night, they started a string of a 19 straight games against teams in their own division.
Royals reliever Louis Coleman pitched two scoreless innings and Joakim Soria worked a scoreless ninth for his 14th save in 19 chances. With runners on first and second, pinch-hitter Alexei Ramirez hit into a hard fielder’s choice to end the game.
Peavy (4-2) allowed five runs and six hits over six innings. He struck out four and walked two. The right-hander was roughed up for three runs in the second.
With the score tied at 3, Billy Butler led off the sixth inning with a single and, one out later, Jeff Francoeur reached on a bloop single. Butler and Francoeur advanced when Mike Moustakas struck out on Peavy’s wild pitch.
Treanor then hit a two-run single to left, giving the Royals a 5-3 lead.
Peavy allowed back-to-back walks to start the second inning. After Francoeur’s fielder’s choice, Moustakas gave the Royals an early lead with a sacrifice fly. With two outs, Escobar tripled to center to make it 3-0.
Konerko got a run back for the White Sox in the second with a solo shot to left. It was his 22nd homer of the season.
With one out in the third, Juan Pierre singled and Brent Morel reached safely on a bunt. After Adam Dunn struck out, Konerko hit an RBI single. Carlos Quentin drove in Morel with a single that tied it 3-all.
NOTES — White Sox CF Alex Rios, in a 3-for-29 slump, had the night off. ... After hitting a home run in Monday’s win, Dunn was 0 for 5 with three strikeouts, dropping his average to .167.