Kansas City, Mo. ? Humble by nature, Carlos Beltran is not likely to brag about keeping company with Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner and a few other Hall of Famers.

Nevertheless, Kansas City’s 26-year-old switch-hitter homered and had three RBIs in a 7-3 victory over Chicago Thursday night, creeping to the verge of a rare baseball feat.

Kansas City's Rondell White, left, jokes with Mike Sweeney after the Royals' win over Chicago. White homered in K.C.'s 7-3 victory Thursday night in Kansas City, Mo.

With one RBI in the final three games, he will become one of six players since 1900 to record 100 runs, 100 RBIs and 30 stolen bases in three seasons.

“I’m just happy to be in that league,” said Beltran. “It’s just great that I’m having a good year.”

He would be one of only three men, joining Barry Bonds and George Sisler, to do it three years in a row.

“Every year goes by, I always want to do better,” he said. “I always want to try to put up better numbers than I had the year before. I just feel like I’m learning about the league a little more. I feel more comfortable being out there in the batter’s box.”

Beltran had a two-run homer off Dan Wright (1-7) and a sacrifice fly and also stole two bases — giving him 101 runs scored and 41 stolen bases to go with 99 RBIs.

“If Carlos Beltran is not the best player in the major leagues, then he is very close,” said Royals manager Tony Pena.

Brian Anderson (14-11) took a no-hit bid into the fifth and beat the White Sox for the fifth time in six decisions. He went eight innings, allowing seven hits and three runs, with two walks and a strikeout.

Beltran hit his 25th homer after Angel Berroa singled leading off the game, an anticlimactic showdown for second place in the AL Central behind the Minnesota Twins.

Anderson held the Twins hitless until Aaron Rowand singled with two outs in the fifth. Rowand went to second on Wright’s errant pickoff attempt and scored Chicago’s first run on Joe Crede’s single.

Wright walked Aaron Guiel and Ken Harvey leading off the second and Guiel eventually scored on Brent Mayne’s infield out for a 3-0 lead.

“We were facing a guy who had been very tough against us all year,” said Chicago manager Jerry Manuel. “We showed a lot of life in coming back. Guys made some adjustments and were getting some pretty good swings.”

Notes: Manuel declined to comment on speculation he may be released when the season ends this week. “Well, that’s something we’re going to try to keep out of these last four games,” he said. “We’re just going to try to focus on these last four games. … Pena was given a cake in a brief ceremony held by the stadium staff three hours before the game. They thanked him for the turnaround from last year’s 100-loss season. … The former players who got 100 RBIs, 100 runs and 30 stolen bases are all in the Hall of Fame — Sisler, Wagner, Kiki Cuyler and Cobb.