Chicago ? The White Sox retooled their pitching staff in the offseason, figuring the additions of Bartolo Colon, Billy Koch, Rick White and Tom Gordon would make them a contender.

So far, the best move of all was inviting Esteban Loaiza to spring training.

Loaiza (3-0) matched a career high with 11 strikeouts, winning his third straight start as Chicago beat the Kansas City Royals, 8-2, Thursday.

“This is the best three starts I ever had in my career,” Loaiza said after allowing just four hits and a run in six strong innings.

“I’m feeling good, and I’ve been successful so far. I just hope I can get a lot of wins,” said Loaiza, whose earned run average is 1.31.

Loaiza had plenty of help as Chicago beat Kansas City (11-3) for the second straight day. Slumping Carlos Lee’s grand slam was one of four White Sox homers off Chris George (2-1).

After a fan attacked an umpire Tuesday night, there was no trouble the rest of the series.

Loaiza, who pitched previously with the Pirates, Rangers and Blue Jays and is in his ninth big-league season, didn’t allow a hit until Brandon Berger singled leading off the fifth.

“The acquisition of Bartolo was huge. But Esteban is a guy Kenny was pressing to get,” Chicago manager Jerry Manuel said of general manager Kenny Williams.

Kansas City pitcher Chris George, right, watches Chicago's Paul Konerko round the bases after hitting a home run as third base coach Bruce Kimm, left, applauds. The White Sox beat the Royals, 8-2, Thursday in Chicago.

“We’re glad we got him. We didn’t realize he’d be this good. He’s probably the biggest surprise for us.”

Loaiza had a 15-inning scoreless streak snapped in the sixth, when Dee Brown drove in a run with the third of three Kansas City singles in the inning.

Lee’s sixth career slam gave Chicago an 8-0 lead in the fifth against George, who went 4 2/3 innings.

“They have a lot of power on that team and showed it today,” George said. “It was one of those days when I didn’t have a whole lot going. They hit a lot of different pitches.”

Miguel Olivo and Tony Graffanino hit back-to-back solo shots in the second, and Paul Konerko added another solo homer in the third. Magglio Ordonez had an RBI single in the first, extending his hitting streak to 13 games.

Lee, who hit into a first-inning double play with the bases loaded, and Konerko entered batting .174. Lee’s homer was his first of the season and came after Konerko was intentionally walked to load the bases following a walk to Jose Valentin and a double by Frank Thomas.

“I wasn’t trying to hit a grand slam. When you don’t try, I guess it happens,” said Lee, motivated by the intentional walk to Konerko.

“That was showing me up, and I won’t take that,” he said.

Berger had an RBI infield single off Gary Glover in the eighth, and the Royals loaded the bases before White got Carlos Febles to ground into a double play.

Notes: The start was delayed 10 minutes by rain. The crowd was just 10,716. … Loaiza has not allowed a hit in the first three innings of any of his three starts. … George gave up seven hits and eight runs. The four homers allowed tied a club record shared by Paul Byrd, who gave up four to the White Sox last September. … Loaiza also fanned 11 on Sept. 8, 2000, for Toronto against the Tigers. His 11 strikeouts were the most by a White Sox pitcher since James Baldwin fanned 11 against Milwaukee in July 2000. … The gametime temperature was 43 degrees, 41 degrees colder than Tuesday night’s series opener.