Paul Konerko hit a two-run homer and Tyler Flowers added his first home run in the majors to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.

Konerko went deep in the third and Flowers added a solo shot in the fifth to help the White Sox snap a seven-game home losing streak. Flowers also had a single and a walk.

Juan Pierre had three singles and scored two runs for Chicago.

Jesse Crain (7-3) got the win in relief after pitching out of starter Jake Peavy’s jam in the seventh and his own in the eighth. Chris Sale got the last three outs, earning his fourth save.

Peavy allowed four runs and nine hits over 6 2-3 innings.

Luke Hochevar (8-9) took the loss, allowing eight hits and five runs in six innings. He had won four straight decisions and hadn’t lost in eight starts dating to June 21.

Billy Butler stroked a two-run single for the Royals, and Johnny Giavotella added two hits and an RBI.

The White Sox have won seven of last their last nine, but they had lost seven straight at U.S. Cellular Field by a combined score of 54-17.

The start of the game was delayed by 1 hour, 25 minutes due to thunderstorms that moved through the Chicago area late Saturday afternoon. There was another delay of 42 minutes prior to the start of the eighth.

The White Sox took the lead with a two-run seventh. Carlos Quentin drove in the tying run with an RBI double into the left-field corner. Alejandro De Aza forced in the go-ahead run with a bases loaded walk.

Both runs came with Royals reliever Aaron Crow on the mound but both were charged to Hochevar, who issued a single and a walk to start the inning before being pulled.

Hochevar pitched out of jams effectively for most of the game, allowing the leadoff man to reach in six of seven innings.

The Royals overcame an early 2-0 deficit with a four-run rally in the fifth. Butler’s two-out, two-run single put the Royals up 4-2.

Butler got his chance when White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen had Melky Cabrera intentionally walked in front of him to load the bases.

The White Sox cut the lead to 4-3 in the fifth on Flowers’ first homer. For Flowers, who was playing in his 25th game over the last three seasons, it was also his first career RBI.

With two outs and one on in the third, Konerko hit a 1-2 fastball into the left field seats, putting the White Sox up 2-0. It was Konerko’s 27th homer and extended his hitting streak to 10 games.

After the Royals fell behind 5-4, they got the first two runners on in the eighth against Crain, but Salvador Perez bounced into an inning-ending double play.

NOTES: White Sox C A.J. Pierzynski (bruised left wrist) was out of the lineup Saturday and manager Ozzie Guillen said he doesn’t expect him to play Sunday against Royals LHP Jeff Francis. … Konerko (left knee) said he is close to being able to return to playing defense. Guillen said Wednesday is the earliest he would consider putting Konerko back at first base. Konerko hasn’t played in the field since being hit by a pitch on July 31 against Boston. … Adam Dunn (personal) was not with the team Saturday and Guillen said he won’t play until Tuesday since the lefty Francis takes the hill Sunday and the team is off Monday. … The Royals and White Sox will play the finale of their three-game series on Sunday afternoon. Francis will start for Kansas City against Chicago’s John Danks. Francis has allowed just four earned runs in 12 2-3 innings in two starts against Chicago this season but has ended up with no-decisions in both outings. Danks started the season 0-8 but is 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA in his last eight starts. The ERA is the fourth-lowest in baseball over that span. … Kansas City’s Melky Cabrera went 2 for 3. He’s hitting .400 (60 for 150) since July 2, the best average in the major leagues. … Mike Moustakas went 0 for 4 and fell to 0 for 31 against the White Sox in his first big-league season.
 

By RANDY COVITZ

The Kansas City Star

By RANDY COVITZ

The Kansas City Star

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Melky Cabrera has been a spring training surprise for the Kansas City Royals.

Cabrera, who signed with the Royals in December, is batting .479 this spring with five doubles, two homers and 16 RBI and 17 runs scored. Cabrera hit a two-run homer in Thursday’s 9-8 win over the Mariners.

The Royals received contradictory reports when they were contemplating signing the free-agent outfielder, who was released by Atlanta on Oct. 19 soon after they were eliminated from the National League playoffs.

Cabrera hit .238 in August and .246 in September. He finished with a .255 average, four home runs, only 34 extra-base hits and 42 RBI in 147 games.

“We felt real strong he had a lot left, and he’s proven that,” Royals Manager Ned Yost said.

The 26-year-old Cabrera will be the starting center fielder for Kansas City on opening day. He said he played at 220 pounds last year but reported to spring training 20 pounds lighter.

“Sometimes a change of scenery is huge for a guy,” Yost said. “Melky had some really good years with the Yankees. He came off not a very good year last year, and that happens. Every once in a while a guy will have a bad year.

“I think Melky kind of refined what he wanted to do as a player and refocused and rededicated himself as a player. He got in great shape, was very serious about his winter workouts.”

Cabrera made $3.1 million last year, and he signed a one-year contract with the Royals for $1.25 million.

“I always thought he was a great player,” Royals pitcher Bruce Chen said. “I’ve seen him with the Yankees, and he was very, very good. I can’t believe we got him. We got him so cheap, because last year was a down year for him. But he’s looking really good.”

Cabrera was interested more in an opportunity to play every day than in trying to get a bigger contract.

“A lot of times signing a guy revolves around how much money can I get?” Yost said. “Well, Melky’s concern was, I just want to come back and prove I can play again. That was a main factor for me, was that he was serious about bouncing back. Money was secondary compared to prove to baseball that he’s the player he once was and what everybody thinks he can be.”

Copyright 2011 Columbia Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Updated Jan 15, 2011 8:36 PM ET

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)

Free-agent pitcher Bruce Chen is set to re-sign with the Kansas City Royals.

The team said Saturday that Chen’s agreed to a one-year contract, pending a physical.

The 33-year-old lefty led the Royals in wins last season, going 12-7 with a 4.17 ERA in 33 games, including 23 starts.

He began the year at Triple-A Omaha, making 10 relief appearances before joining the rotation on May 30.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Free-agent pitcher Bruce Chen is set to re-sign with the Kansas City Royals, agreeing to a $2 million, one-year contract.

The team said Saturday that Chen’s deal is pending a physical.

The 33-year-old lefty led the Royals in wins last season, going 12-7 with a 4.17 ERA in 33 games, including 23 starts. He began the year at Triple-A Omaha and made 10 relief appearances before joining the rotation on May 30.

Chen can earn an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses.