Kansas City, Mo. ? Mark Buehrle trotted out to the mound in the ninth inning, eager to wrap up his fourth complete game — a fitting last start of the season for Chicago’s most consistent pitcher.

Buehrle tossed a four-hitter and tied a season high with eight strikeouts, leading the White Sox over the Kansas City Royals, 9-2, Thursday night.

Buehrle (16-10) retired 18 straight after giving up two runs in the second inning and walked none in handing the Royals their sixth consecutive loss. The left-hander lowered his earned-run average to 3.89.

“He deserved to finish out the season like that. He threw the ball real well,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “He was dominating and that’s why we left him out there.”

Making his final start of 2004, Buehrle set a career best for innings pitched in a season with 2451/3. He pitched 239 innings in 2002.

Buehrle has gone at least six innings in 28 consecutive starts.

“Overall, it was disappointing because we didn’t get to make the playoffs,” Buehrle said. “I think I went out there and kept the team in the game. That’s all you can ask.”

Aaron Rowand hit a three-run home run in a five-run eighth for Chicago. Jamie Burke and Willie Harris added RBI singles.

Joe Borchard broke a 2-all tie in the seventh with a solo home run to left-center field off reliever Shawn Camp (2-2), his eighth of the year. Juan Uribe went 3-for-5 with his 23rd homer and added an RBI single.

Chicago tied it at 2 in the fifth when Burke led off the inning with a walk, advanced on a throwing error by Chris George and scored on Uribe’s single. It was the 92nd unearned run of the season given up by Kansas City — tied for second in the American League coming into Thursday’s games with the Boston Red Sox.

The Royals took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on catcher Burke’s fielding error and an RBI-double by Desi Relaford.

Matt Stairs broke for home on John Buck’s slow grounder to third. The throw beat him home by several steps, but Burke couldn’t hang on to the ball. Calvin Pickering then singled and scored on Relaford’s double down the right-field line.

“Most of the time when you face a really good pitcher like this kid, you’re going to have a tough time. You better get them early,” Royals manager Tony Pena said. “A soon as they start picking it up, they get tougher and tougher and tougher.”

George, making an emergency start for injured left-hander Jimmy Gobble, went 42/3 innings. He allowed two runs — one earned — on four hits and one walk. Gobble was scratched from his start after an MRI revealed a problem in his lower back.

Kansas City has lost a franchise-worst 102 games.