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 last 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 with 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.

Peavy gave up three hits, three runs and two walks with five strikeouts.

A.J. Pierzynski had an RBI single in the first to snap an 18-inning scoreless streak by the White Sox.

Carlos Quentin hit his 17th homer and drove in four runs for Chicago.

YANKEES 10, MARINERS 1:

CC Sabathia allowed an unearned run in seven innings, Mark Teixeira homered twice and drove in a season-high five runs and visiting New York beat Seattle. Sabathia (18-7) allowed four hits and one run to bolster his candidacy for the AL's Cy Young Award. He walked two, struck out eight and tied Adam Wainwright of St. Louis for the major league lead in wins.

ATHLETICS 8, INDIANS 4:

Oakland's Mark Ellis homered to break the franchise record for second basemen and the host Athletics extended their winning streak to six games. Ellis connected in the second inning against Jeremy Sowers (6-10) for his 79th career homer and No. 77 while playing second for the A's, moving past Dick Green on the club's list.

RAYS 4, BLUE JAYS 0:

Matt Garza struck out 10 while stopping a personal nine-game winless streak and host Tampa Bay beat Toronto. Garza (8-10) allowed three hits over 7 1/3 innings in winning for the first time since beating Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay, 4-2, on July 24.

RED SOX 11, ORIOLES 5:

Jon Lester pitched into the seventh inning to win his sixth straight decision, and visiting Boston beat Baltimore. Lester (14-7) gave up three runs and 10 hits. Josh Reddick, J.D. Drew and Brian Anderson homered for the Red Sox.

RANGERS 3, ANGELS 2:

Hank Blalock homered, and Scott Feldman picked up his 17th victory for host Texas. Feldman (17-5) allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings. The Rangers, who snapped a five-game losing streak, moved within 6 1/2 games of the division-leading Angels in the AL West.