KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Chicago White Sox are ending a disappointing season on an encouraging note.
Jon Garland pitched six strong innings and Joe Crede had two hits and an RBI on Friday night in a 4-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals that clinched second place and a winning record for the White Sox.
"It means something to get a little momentum going into next year," Crede said. "But last year we finished second and we had a winning record and look where we ended up this year. It's a matter of everybody staying healthy and everybody doing their job."
Chicago has won eight of 11.
The Royals have lost seven in a row and a franchise-record 103 for the year. They'll have to beat the White Sox at least once in their final two games to avoid tying the 1964 Athletics for the most losses in Kansas City's major league history.
"There are a lot of lessons to be learned in this year," said Joe Randa, who had two hits. "The Royals are one of many clubs that are going to have a lot of work to do in the offseason."
Garland (12-11) allowed two runs and five hits with three strikeouts and three walks. He raised his career mark against Kansas City to 10-4 and will finish a full major league season with a winning record for the first time.
"I made all my starts and I got over 200 innings," Garland said. "I think that's what I'm happiest with this year. To get 200 or more innings, you've got to be doing something right."
Jaime Cerda (1-4) relieved rookie Denny Bautista to start the seventh and loaded the bases with one out on two walks and a single by Juan Uribe.
Matt Kinney came in and struck out Aaron Rowand, then threw a wild pitch that scored Joe Borchard to put Chicago ahead 3-2.
After an intentional walk to Carlos Lee, Kinney walked Paul Konerko on a 3-2 pitch to force in the fourth run and give Konerko his 117th RBI of the season.
Shingo Takatsu got three outs for his 19th save in 20 chances.
Chicago improved to 82-78, three games ahead of third-place Cleveland with two to play.
David DeJesus stretched his hitting streak to 13 games with a double leading off the first for Kansas City. He later scored on Calvin Pickering's grounder to second.
Lee's double started a two-out rally by the White Sox in the sixth. Konerko followed with an RBI single, Ross Gload drew a walk, and Crede doubled into left, scoring Konerko. Gload was out at the plate on a strong relay from shortstop Angel Berroa.
The Royals tied it at 2 on Aberto Castillo's RBI single with two out in the bottom of the sixth.
Bautista went six innings and gave up two runs on seven hits. The rookie, who lost his first four major league starts, struck out a career-high six.
"Today I was starting to feel good," Bautista said. "My slider, my changeup. I had everything under control in the zone."
Notes
DeJesus also had a 15-game hitting streak July 30-Aug. 15. ... The Royals, who stranded six runners in the first two innings on Wednesday night, left five on base in the first two innings against Garland. ... Garland's 33rd start tied a career high. ... Right-hander Zack Greinke and third baseman Joe Randa were named the Royals' pitcher and player of the month for September. ... Gload singled with two out in the fourth, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games.
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