Kansas City, Mo ? Jon Garland thought he had pitched better but never had better results.

Garland allowed a career-low two hits in seven innings and Magglio Ordonez drove in two runs Thursday as the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 5-1.

KC’s only hits off Garland (11-11) were by Raul Ibanez, a second-inning home run and a fourth-inning single.

“I really didn’t have too much control,” Garland said. “I was effectively wild. The only pitch I could throw for a strike was my changeup, which kept the hitters off balance. I was around the plate, but I wasn’t putting it where I wanted to put it.”

Garland improved to 3-1 in his last four starts, throwing 72 of 104 pitches for strikes.

“I only saw a couple of his changeups. I had enough trouble with his fastball,” Joe Randa said. “He’s the kind of pitcher if he doesn’t have his control to the outside of the plate, he’s a one-sided pitcher. Today he was able to pitch away with his fastball.”

Keith Foulke finished the three-hitter, allowing a single to Mike Sweeney.

“There was no need for him to go back out there with that many pitches,” White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said.

Chicago’s magic number for postseason elimination remained at three.

Ordonez increased his RBIs total to 118, third in the American League. Alex Rodriguez began the day with 132 and Miguel Tejada with 119.

Rookie right-hander Miguel Asencio (3-6) gave up five runs and 11 hits in 61â3 innings.

He struck out a career-high six.

“I was impressed how he pitched,” Royals manager Tony Pena said. “He made just three mistakes: a two-out walk in the second inning and back-to-back singles in the seventh after being ahead 0-2 in the count.”

Ibanez, who matched his career high with 24 homers and leads the club with 99 RBIs, left after six innings with a left thumb strain when he was hit by runner Aaron Rowand, while stretching to catch Randa’s throw on a bunt single.

Ibanez did not catch the Royals’ charter flight to Detroit, but remained behind for a MRI.

Ordonez hit an RBI single in the first, and D’Angelo Jimenez had a two-out RBI triple in the second and scored on a single by Jose Valentin for a 3-0 lead.

Carlos Lee homered in the fifth, a drive off the left-field bullpen gate. Ordonez had an RBI single in the seventh.

Notes: Lee and Valentin each had three hits. … The White Sox have homered in 11 straight games and 20 of 21. … Chicago is 19-9 when Willie Harris or Jimenez bat leadoff. The White Sox were 40-46 when Kenny Lofton was the leadoff hitter. … The Royals, hitting .237 on the road, play 10 of their final 16 games on the road, starting with a seven-game trip Friday. … Royals rookie RHP Shawn Sedlacek, 2-5 with a 10.10 ERA in his past 10 starts, has been moved to the bullpen. … The White Sox have been outscored 139-77 in the third inning this season.