CHICAGO -- Here’s a look at the Sox’s 4-2 win over the Kansas City Royals on Monday.

How it happened: All eyes were on Chris Sale, the White Sox's left-hander who took the mound on nine days rest. Sale was solid early on, working quickly and throwing in the mid 90s. In the fifth inning he was hit hard by three straight batters, including Jeff Francoeur’s solo home run to right field and then gave up a 403-foot homer to Billy Butler in the seventh. He got out of a jam in the eighth, with runners on first and third, courtesy of some timely defensive gems. First, Alexei Ramirez dove across his body to snare a infield blooper. Then, Sale cleanly fielded a bunt near the third base line and tagged out a runner near the plate. And for some theatrics, Sale fanned Lorenzo Cain on three pitches. Sale went eight innings, allowing two runs on eight hits, striking out seven and walking none. The Sox’s bats came alive late in the game. Paul Konerko hit a solo homer in the seventh, Gordon Beckham provided the go-ahead run with his 10th homer of the season in the eighth and Kevin Youkilis added to the lead with a RBI double. A.J. Pierzynski drove in the Sox’s first run of the night with a double in the second inning.

What it means: The Sox have won five of their last six games and 10 of their last 13. A win Tuesday will give them their fifth consecutive series victory.

Outside the box: A.J. Pierzynski’s home run streak was snapped at five games, which left him one shy of the setting the club record for consecutive games with a home run. Pierzynski did, however, go 2-for-3 with an RBI. And he still leads all major league catchers in home runs (21).

Up next: Jake Peavy (9-7) will take the mound opposite Bruce Chen (7-9) on Tuesday night. Game time is 7:10 p.m.