Buehrle handcuffs KC – White sox 6, Royals 1

? Not bad for a 38th-round draft pick.

Mark Buehrle got his 18th win Tuesday night, scattering six hits over seven innings to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 6-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

With two starts left, he has a shot at becoming the White Sox’s first 20-game winner since Jack McDowell in 1993.

“I’d like to get it,” said Buehrle, who’s become the White Sox ace after being picked late in 1998 amateur draft.

“Twenty wins is a good goal to reach. Not many pitchers get to 20 wins in a season.”

Buehrle (18-11) has already reached one milestone, becoming the first Chicago lefty to win 18 since 1985, when Britt Burns went 18-11.

“This kid is showing everybody he is a good pitcher,” Royals manager Tony Pena said.

Getting some run support helps, too. Frank Thomas and Magglio Ordonez hit back-to-back solo home runs, and Ordonez drove in another run. Mark Johnson also homered as the White Sox pulled within one game of .500.

Mike Sweeney’s solo homer was the only offense for the Royals, who have lost 15 of their last 20 games.

Though he’s only in his second full season in the majors, Buehrle has developed into one of the AL’s best pitchers. He won 12 games in the first half, and was named to his first All-Star team.

But he’s trailed off in the second half, winning just six games. After getting victory No. 17 on Sept. 1, he lost his last two starts.

“It’s my fault if I don’t get to 20 wins,” Buehrle said. “I’ve got nobody to blame but myself. I had too many chances.”

If he pitches like he did Tuesday night in his last two starts, he might still get to 20.

Kansas City had a runner in scoring position just three times, and he allowed only one extra-base hit besides Sweeney’s homer, a ground-rule double to Joe Randa. After Sweeney’s leadoff homer in the fourth, Buehrle retired five of his next six batters.

He gave up one run on the six hits, striking out three while walking one. He also had a balk.

“Some pitches weren’t working for me the last couple of starts. Today, everything was working,” Buehrle said. “I’m not trying to change anything knowing 20 is right around the corner.

Keith Foulke pitched two innings for his 10th save and first since June 27.

“It’s nice to be able to get that save. It’s been a long time,” said Foulke, who is third on the White Sox all-time list with 99 career saves.

Miguel Asencio (3-7) gave up two runs one earned and five hits in five innings. He walked four while striking out only one.

“If he can get command on his pitches, he can pitch seven or eight innings every single time,” Pena said. “When he got into trouble, he did make some good pitches.”

Sweeney’s homer in the fourth inning gave the Royals a 1-0 lead, but Buehrle’s teammates quickly bailed him out. After Neifi Perez’s error gave the White Sox runners at first and second, Aaron Rowand beat out a bunt single to load the bases.

One out later, Asencio walked Johnson to force in a run.

The White Sox broke the game open with two runs each in the seventh and eighth. With one out in the seventh, Thomas sent an 0-2 pitch from Shawn Sedlacek into the left-field stands, drawing a standing ovation from the crowd of 12,003.

The fans were on their feet again a few seconds later as Ordonez followed with another homer. It was his 33rd of the year, a career high.

Johnson homered in the eighth and Ordonez added an RBI double to assure Buehrle of his 18th win.

“If you’ve got a chance to play ball, it doesn’t matter where you were drafted,” Buehrle said. “As long as a team gives you a chance, just go out and do the best you can to achieve your goal of pitching in the big leagues.”