Jake Peavy pitched seven shutout innings for his first win of the season, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 5-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night.

Peavy (1-2) held the Royals to four hits and struck out a season-high nine. He didn't give up a hit until Mitch Maier's two-out single in the fifth.

The right-hander struggled in April, going 0-2 with a 7.85 ERA in five starts, but finally looked like the dominant pitcher the White Sox have been waiting to see.

Andruw Jones and Alex Rios drove in two runs apiece. Jones had an RBI single in the third and a run-scoring double in the fifth. Rios, who was 3-for-4, had a two-run single in the fifth.

Alexi Ramirez opened the scoring with a solo homer in the third.

Kansas City starter Gil Meche (0-3) allowed five runs on nine hits in five innings.

Scott Podsednik hit a solo homer in the ninth to end the shutout.