Jake Peavy pitched into the ninth inning in helping the Chicago White Sox to a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday.

Peavy (3-2), who began the year 0-2 with an ERA of 7.85, went 8 1/3 innings to win his third straight start. He allowed seven hits and four runs with five strikeouts.

Matt Thornton picked up his first save of the season by retiring the final two batters.

The Royals jumped on Peavy for three runs in the first inning, including a two-run double by Alberto Callaspo, but managed nary a rally after that.

Billy Butler hit a solo shot in the third to give Kansas City a 4-1 lead, and it stayed that way until the seventh inning when the White Sox’s offense kicked into gear against starter Luke Hochevar (3-1).

Catcher Ramon Castro hit a two-run single, Juan Pierre brought in a run with a single and Andruw Jones made it 5-4 with a sacrifice fly.