CHICAGO – Jose Contreras and two relievers combined on a one-hitter as the Chicago White Sox sent Kansas City to its eighth straight loss, beating the Royals 9-0.

Paul Konerko and Joe Crede homered in a five-run first off Joe Mays as Chicago sailed to its seventh win in eighth games.

Contreras (2-0), now 6-0 in his career against Kansas City, retired the first 10 batters before Mark Grudzielanek doubled past third base with one out in the fourth for what turned out to be the Royals’ lone hit.

Contreras, who won his final eight starts of the 2005 regular season to lead the White Sox into the playoffs, walked one and struck out six in seven strong innings on a cool 48-degree night. Boone Logan and Cliff Politte completed the shutout with one inning each.

Chicago, which has won seven of its last eight, jumped on Mays (0-2) early. Tadahito Iguchi singled, Jim Thome walked and after a high-and-tight pitch from Mays brushed him back, Konerko hit a three-run homer to left, his fifth of the season.

Jermaine Dye reached on third baseman Mark Teahen’s error and after a fielder’s choice, Crede homered to left for a 5-0 lead.

Mays seemed to settle down after the rough first before the White Sox revved it up again in the fifth when Scott Podsednik hit a leadoff double, Iguchi singled, Thome had an RBI single and Konerko delivered an RBI double. Podsednik’s RBI single finished Mays in the sixth and gave Chicago an 8-0 cushion.

In his longest outing of the season, Mays lasted 5 1-3 innings, giving up 11 hits and eight runs – six earned.

The Royals still do not have a victory by a starting pitcher this season (0-7). Kansas City’s only two wins came over the White Sox on April 7-8 and the Royals haven’t tasted victory since.

Konerko has 13 RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak. He’s homered four times in the last four games.

Notes: After going 8-0 in the stretch last season, Contreras was 3-1 in the postseason and the Game 1 starter in each of the White Sox’s playoff series. … Thome has scored in every game this season. … Contreras’ lowest hit complete game came against the Royals, a two-hitter on Oct. 3, 2004. … Before the game, the Royals recalled RHP Joel Peralta from Triple-A Omaha and put RHP Steve Stemle on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right elbow. Peralta relieved Mays in the sixth.