Chicago ? After a really long time, Darrell May got what he wanted.

He got a win.

Kansas City's Donnie Sadler, left, tags out Chicago baserunner Sandy Alomar, who was trying to stretch a double into a triple. The Royals won, 4-3, Thursday at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

May earned his first major league victory in nearly five seasons, helping the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox, 4-3, Thursday.

May (1-3) gave up one run in five innings, working around four hits and five walks.

May’s last win came on Aug. 31, 1997, when he was pitching for Anaheim. He spent the previous four seasons in Japan and began this year on the disabled list because of a strained left groin.

“It’s a long wait in between victories,” said May. “It’s one of many, I hope.”

Roberto Hernandez got his 10th save in 11 opportunities against his former team. The White Sox threatened in the ninth with a pair of two-out singles, but Magglio Ordonez grounded out to end it.

Hernandez was not intimidated by facing the middle of the White Sox order.

Kansas City catcher A.J. Hinch can't come up with a pop foul off the bat of Chicago's Jose Valentin in the ninth inning. Regardless, the Royals beat the White Sox, 4-3, on Thursday in Chicago.

“They know what I got. So why run? I’m not going to run,” said Hernandez.

The White Sox had several scoring opportunities off May. Paul Konerko grounded into a double play with the bases loaded in the first and Tony Graffanino popped out with the bases loaded in the third.

Sandy Alomar Jr. got thrown out trying to stretch a double into a triple in the fourth inning.

“We’ve got to know where the line is between aggressive and not being smart,” said Konerko. “We have to find the midpoint.”

The White Sox have struggled against mediocre pitching.

“Definitely with this offense, we should be creaming a lot of guys,” said Alomar. “We’re not doing it.”

Todd Ritchie (3-8) lost his sixth straight decision. He allowed nine hits and four runs over seven innings.

The White Sox have dropped nine of their last 11 games and have struggled at the plate during the span.

“You always have to be pressing a little,” said Konerko. “I’ve pressed a million times and gotten the job done.”

Konerko is hoping that hitting will come around soon.

“It’ll come, but so will Christmas.”

Kansas City scored twice in the first. A single by Luis Alicea and a walk set up RBI singles by Joe Randa and Mark Quinn.

Ritchie got into more problems in the second after Neifi Perez bunted for a single. Consecutive singles by Alicea and Carlos Beltran made it 3-0.

After Aaron Rowand hit his first homer of the season in the Chicago second, the Royals added a run in the fifth. Mark Sweeney led off with a double, stole third and scored on Randa’s sacrifice fly to give the Royals a 4-1 lead.

Ordonez singled in the eighth and Konerko followed with single. Graffanino followed with an RBI single and Alomar drove in a run with a groundout. Notes: The Royals placed OF Chuck Knoblauch on the disabled list before the game with a strained left forearm and recalled outfielder Brandon Berger from Triple-A Omaha.