Chicago ? Jake Peavy’s first start with the Chicago White Sox came after a long wait, hours of rehab and a frustrating setback.

Once he returned to the mound for his first major-league start in more than three months, it had a familiar feeling: one he’d really missed.

“Once you get out there, it’s like riding a bike. It comes back to you,” said Peavy on Saturday night after pitching five innings and getting the win in Chicago’s 13-3 rout of the Kansas City Royals.

“You certainly are comfortable in that surrounding,” Peavy added. “I did some things well and some things not so well. I got a long way to go to be where I want to be.”

Peavy (1-0) hadn’t pitched in a major-league game since June 8 when he beat the Diamondbacks while with the Padres. Five days later, he went on the disabled list due to a strained tendon in his right ankle.

Traded to the White Sox on July 31, he’d planned to be pitching sooner, but was hit in the pitching elbow with a line drive during a rehab game Aug. 24, setting him back.

Even with the White Sox’s chances for making the postseason slim at best, Peavy made the start Saturday night, and the 2007 Cy Young Award winner gave a glimpse of what might be next season during his 73-pitch outing.

Peavy said he’s sure he’ll feel some soreness today, but that’s to be expected. He gave up three hits, three runs and two walks with five strikeouts Saturday night.

“I’m not sure how it will come along this year because I’m far behind. It just felt good to get out there and compete,” he said.