Bruce Chen pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning and the Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 4-1 on Sunday in the finale of the Royals’ best season in 24 years. Chen (9-4) allowed one run, struck out four and walked three in 6 2/3 innings. The crafty left-hander went 6-4 with a 3.61 ERA in 15 starts after he joined the rotation in July.
Kansas City won three of four in Chicago and went 17-10 in September for its most successful month of the season. The Royals’ 86-76 record was their best mark since they went 92-70 in 1989.