Chicago ? Jon Garland heard the once-familiar boos when he left the game Tuesday night. They weren’t for him. Not this time.

Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was heckled for pulling Garland with one out in the ninth inning, ending Garland’s shot at his third complete game of the season.

Garland allowed four hits, the last a homer in the ninth, and became the major leagues’ first 12-game winner as the White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals, 5-1, Tuesday night.

“I love it,” Guillen said of his cold reception from the fans. “As long as they don’t boo my players, it’s fine with me.”

The 28,206 fans on hand had no reason to do that, as usual. The White Sox have won six straight to improve their major-league-best record to 48-22, nine games ahead of the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central.

Guillen told Garland before the ninth he would pull him for Damaso Marte if he got in trouble. Garland’s first pitch of the inning was Terrence Long’s third home run of the season. One out later, on came Marte.

“It was getting harder,” Guillen said. “Remember, we still got a long way to go. He was just going to go out there to get the shutout. I talked to him before the inning started. I am going to go to win the game, not complete game or shutout.”

CHicago starting pitcher Jon Garland is congratulated by teammate Aaron Rowand, left, after leaving the game in the ninth inning against Kansas City. Garland gave up a solo home run in the ninth, but the White Sox held on to win, 5-1, Tuesday night in Chicago.

Garland (12-2) reached the 12-win mark for the fourth straight season, though never this fast. The quickest he ever did it previously was in his 31st start in 2002. This was his 14th start of the season. All four victory No. 12s have come against the Royals.

“I’ve done it before, this is as far as I’ve gotten,” Garland said. “I want out to go out there and keep doing as good as I’ve been doing for my team and keep pushing them.”

The 25-year-old right-hander came into the season with a 46-51 record and a reputation for being inconsistent.

“I always believed in this kid,” Guillen said. “I’ve always believed he’s something special. I think this kid has a great future and he’s had the opportunity to show everybody and himself he belongs as a winning pitcher.”

Garland struck out two and walked one in his fourth straight win, using mostly fastballs. He is 7-0 with a 2.94 earned-run average at home.

Zack Greinke (1-8) struck out a career-high eight, but gave up five runs and seven hits in 51â3 innings.

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“I don’t know how this kid is 1-8 with the stuff he got. That’s amazing,” Guillen said.

Greinke got into trouble in the sixth, loading the bases before getting pulled for Andrew Sisco. Sisco got A.J. Pierzynski to ground to third baseman Mark Teahen, but he bobbled the ball, allowing Paul Konerko to score before getting a force out at third. Crede then sliced a single to left for another run. Ozuna, who had one RBI this season, then picked up his second of the game with an infield single.

“I felt like I threw well,” Greinke said. “But things didn’t go great.”