Chicago ? The Chicago White Sox love one-run games this year.

Paul Konerko homered for the fourth straight game, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals, 1-0, Wednesday night to extend their winning streak to seven.

“You just don’t think it’s going to be a one-run game every night, but like I said, whether it’s us coming from behind and winning by a run or losing by a run, whatever it is, it just comes down to the end every time,” Konerko said.

Chicago is 30-15 in one-run games, the most one-run victories in the American League.

Konerko hit his 36th homer of the season off Mike Wood (4-6) in the third inning. He has a 12-game hitting streak.

“I threw that pitch down and away, and I think it caught too much of the plate,” Wood said. “He owns this park.”

Chicago improved to a season-high 36 games over .500 at 87-51

“I think they’re tough when you’re playing them, but they’re good because you get in these games, and you think you have the edge always, when you have a good record in those games,” Konerko said. “Maybe we’ll need that down the road, that little confidence might pay off later on.”

Jose Contreras (11-7) won his fourth consecutive start, allowing six hits in 72â3 innings with four strikeouts and five walks, one of them intentional. He is 7-2 with a 3.34 earned-run average since the All-Star break.

“We had chances against a good pitcher, and you have to take advantage of at least one of those situations, and we didn’t do that,” Royals manager Buddy Bell said.

Contreras gave up six hits and four walks in his first five innings, then allowed one runner over the next 22â3 innings. He was pulled after walking Mark Teahen with two outs in the eighth.

“He throws strikes and was not afraid to use his fastball,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “He’s got great stuff, and he’s got to believe he can use it, and he’s doing it right now.”

Bobby Jenks got the final out of the inning and the first out of the ninth before giving way to Damaso Marte, who hit Matt Stairs and Aaron Guiel with pitches. Guillen was booed when he pulled Jenks.

“That kid got two big outs,” Guillen said. “The one I was concerned with was Stairs. With Stairs coming up, I had to bring my best lefty up out of the bullpen. … If I knew this guy was going to hit two guys, I’m not going to bring him in to pitch.”

Dustin Hermanson finished for his 34th save in 37 chances, completing the six-hitter by retiring Mike Sweeney on a game-ending popup with runners at the corners.

Kansas City has lost five of six overall and 16 of its last 18 road games.