Kansas City starting pitcher Brian Bannister wipes his face after Chicago's Jermaine Dye hits a two-run home run during the first inning Tuesday in Chicago.

Chicago ? When Javier Vazquez is on, few pitchers are better. The 30-year-old right-hander had his best start of the season Tuesday night, giving the short-handed Chicago White Sox staff a much-needed boost by throwing eight scoreless innings in a 9-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

“We needed it,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “When he gets ahead of the count and makes sure he’s around the plate, this is the type of game you see from him.”

There were no blowups between the teams, which brawled when they last saw each other on Aug. 3. There were a lot of White Sox highlights.

Jermaine Dye hit a two-run homer, Nick Swisher and A.J. Pierzynski added solo shots and the White Sox added five runs in the eighth for a rare blowout win.

Vazquez (9-10) matched his season-high with 10 strikeouts, gave up five hits and walked one to win for the second time in nine starts. Vazquez hadn’t won at home since beating Pittsburgh on June 17 and was 1-5 since, with the victory coming against the Royals on Aug. 1.

“I felt like I’ve been throwing the ball well the last few starts, but a mistake here or there cost me,” Vazquez said. “Today I didn’t have any mistakes. … I feel really strong and healthy and we have only two months left. Important months, too.”

Adam Russell completed the White Sox’s sixth shutout and first since beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0 on June 26.

Brian Bannister (7-11) lost his fifth straight decision. He gave up four hits, three for home runs. He struck out seven and walked two in seven innings. Bannister is winless in his last eight starts since beating Colorado on June 23.

“I liked his tempo and his rhythm,” Royals manager Trey Hillman said. “Other than the mistakes that he made for the home runs, he pitched much better.”

“I feel like there is progress being made,” Bannister said. “There’s not a ton of results right now, but I think I’m getting closer to where I need to be to help this team win a lot more ballgames in the future.”