Chicago ? For the second time in the young season, the Kansas City Royals staged a big ninth-inning rally and were on the verge of sending the Chicago White Sox to a numbing loss.

This time, though, the White Sox made a comeback of their own.

“A wild game,” said Chicago’s Paul Konerko, who had the game-tying single in a two-run ninth as the White Sox pulled out a 10-9 win Wednesday.

“You just say if they are going to beat us, make them earn it, and give a good finish, go up there swinging and see what happens.”

Joe Crede’s bases-loaded single over a drawn-in outfield capped the rally after the Royals had scored four in the top half to take a 9-8 lead.

Carlos Beltran hit a two-run homer to tie, and Mike Sweeney put Kansas City ahead with a solo shot off Billy Koch.

“I am ticked, but at the same time I got to tip my cap,” Koch said. “I made some good pitches. I’m definitely disappointed I couldn’t get the job done.”

Beltran had hit a winning two-run homer against the White Sox on opening day when the Royals scored six in the bottom of the ninth for a 9-7 victory.

This time, his long blast to center — his second homer of the game — got the Royals even before Sweeney followed with another blast off Koch, who gave up four hits and four runs.

Chicago's Frank Thomas looks to the second-base umpire after being tagged out on a steal attempt by Kansas City second baseman Tony Graffanino.

“I was able to square my bat. I never though it was going out,” Beltran said. “It was a great game. We weren’t going to quit out there and they didn’t either.”

Curtis Leskanic (0-1) walked two, and an error by second baseman Mendy Lopez loaded the bases.

Konerko then hit a fly ball single to right that fell between Lopez and Juan Gonzalez and just inside the line, tying the game.

“I’m real lucky it got down. It’s one of those things I didn’t do anything right and it just worked out,” Konerko said.

Nate Field replaced Leskanic, the Royals brought Gonzalez in as a fifth infielder and drew their two remaining outfielders in. Crede then hit a 3-2 pitch to deep right-center.

“That’s the toughest part when your team comes from behind and you go out and blow it,” Leskanic said. “I thought we were going to do it again today. You are going to give up runs here and there some times. You don’t want to do it in a one-run game in the ninth inning.”

6Sports video: Royals fall to the White Sox

Jon Adkins (1-0) got the win, pitching one-third of an inning.

Beltran had four hits and four RBIs, including a two-run homer in the seventh off starter Jon Garland.

Miguel Olivo’s bases-clearing double and a pair of RBI singles by Juan Uribe gave Garland a 6-0 lead.

But the Royals, pumped up by a dugout pep talk from manager Tony Pena, pecked away and cut the lead to one in the seventh on homers by Benito Santiago and Beltran. Garland gave up five runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Nursing a 6-5 lead, the White Sox added two runs in the seventh on an RBI infield single by Carlos Lee and bad-hop, run-scoring single by Konerko.

Frank Thomas’ double off the top of the fence and walks to Crede and Aaron Rowand loaded the bases in the fourth before Olivo drove an 0-2 pitch to right center to make it 5-0. He then scored on another single by Uribe.

Sweeney had a sacrifice fly following a single by Berroa and double by Beltran in the sixth and a second run scored on Joe Randa’s fielder’s-choice grounder.

Santiago homered leading off the seventh to make it 6-2.

Notes: The Royals’ starting staff is winless through eight games. Kansas City’s 1992 rotation didn’t win until the 18th game … Kansas City is flip-flopping starters. Brian Anderson will start today’s series finale against the White Sox, while Jimmy Gobble — today’s slated starter — will now pitch Friday against the Twins. … White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said before the game that Willie Harris was his second baseman, but he wanted to get Uribe in the lineup for a second straight game because of his performance Tuesday when he homered. He said Uribe might also start today at short to give Jose Valentin a day off, with Harris returning to second. Uribe reached bases four times Wednesday.