CHICAGO (AP) _ Rookies Kip Wells and Jon Garland, hoping to earn spots in the playoff rotation or bullpen, combined to pitch eight strong innings Saturday night as the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 9-1.

Jose Valentin hit two homers, one from each side of the plate, and Paul Konerko added a solo shot as Chicago won its 95th game.

With the White Sox's pitching staff besieged by injuries, Wells allowed five hits and a run in five innings before giving way to Garland, who surrendered just a single to Mark Quinn over three innings.

Joe Crede hit a two-run double off Blake Stein (8-5) in the second. Valentin hit his 24th homer, tying a career high, in the third and Konerko his 21st in the fourth. Ray Durham had an RBI single in the sixth off reliever Dan Murray.

Valentin homered in the third batting from the left side. In the eighth he hit his career-high 25th batting from the right side _ his first homer all season righty.

Joe Randa had an RBI single in the first before Wells (6-9) overcame a shaky start that included two singles and a walk.

Wells left spring training as the No. 2 starter in the White Sox's rotation, but struggled and was twice demoted to the minors.

With projected Game 1 playoff starter Mike Sirotka suffering from a sore elbow and veterans Cal Eldred (elbow) and James Baldwin (shoulder) trying to overcome injuries, Wells is one option for the postseason that begins next week.

So is Garland, who has also struggled at times. The 6-foot-6 right-hander just turned 21 three days ago.

Josh Paul added a two-run double in the eighth off Kenneth Mullen. ^Notes@: Sirotka will throw on the side Sunday to test his elbow. ... Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk, who played his final 13 years with the White Sox, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Harold Baines, his teammate on Chicago's 1983 playoff team. ... The Royals are 6-5 this season against the White Sox headed into Sunday's regular-season finale. They and the Red Sox are the only two AL teams with winning records against the White Sox.