MLB: Chicago White Sox 4, Kansas City 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 2 (UPI) -- Mark Buehrle worked into the ninth Thursday and the Chicago White Sox extended their season-long winning streak to six games by downing Kansas City 4-1.

Chicago won for the 13th time in 17 contests and moved within 2 ½ games of idle Detroit for first place in the American League Central.

Buehrle (8-2), who had won just one of his previous seven starts, took the mound in the ninth in an attempt to finish off a shutout. Alberto Callaspo, however, opened the inning with a double and, one out later, scored on a two-base hit by David DeJesus.

Bobby Jenks came on to replace Buehrle and retired the next two batters to earn his 19th save.

Jayson Nix put the White Sox in front with a solo homer in the fourth and Chicago added a single run in each of the last three innings.

A double play grounder by A.J. Pierzynski produced a run in the seventh, Scott Podsednik had an RBI single in the eighth and Gordon Beckham delivered another score in the ninth with a fielder's choice grounder.

The loss went to Bruce Chen (0-2), who was called up from Class AAA Omaha last week and was going for his first major league victory in almost four years. He allowed five hits and two runs over six innings.