Billy Butler had a pair of hits and drove in two runs as the Kansas City Royals did all of their scoring early in Monday’s 3-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

Mie Aviles and Willie Bloomquist each had three hits and Jason Kendall scored a pair of runs for Kansas City, which owns a modest two-game win streak.

Making his third start, Anthony Lerew (1-1) picked up his first win of the season. The 27-year-old lefty allowed a run on three hits over six innings with four strikeouts.

The Royals staked him to an early cushion when Butler singled in a run and Aviles did the same in the first. Butler added another RBI single in the second for the 3-0 lead.

After Lerew exited, two pitchers bridged the gap to Joakim Soria, who issued a walk in the ninth but recorded his 19th save.

Chicago starter Mark Buehrle (6-7) snapped a string of three straight wins by surrendering three runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Carlos Quentin scored the lone run for the White Sox with a solo home run in the fourth. It was the club’s second straight loss following a streak of 11 consecutive wins.