CHICAGO -- Alec Marsh has been wanting this celebration for months.

The Royals right-hander has taken part in a few "first" celebrations, barraging his teammates with condiments and beer and who knows what else after their first hit, win, save or other milestone. But Marsh has found his own "first" elusive.

On Wednesday, Marsh was finally the one in the middle of the celebration after earning his first Major League win in the Royals’ 7-1 victory over the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.

“It was great,” Marsh said. “Watching everybody go through that for a couple months, you’re trying to get it, and to finally have it happen was amazing. They didn’t let up on me.”

The win gave Kansas City its first road series win since mid-May in San Diego, as well as the season series over the White Sox, 7-6.

Opener Steven Cruz, making his first Major League start, set the tone with two scoreless innings, and Marsh followed suit with 4 1/3 innings as the Royals’ bulk pitcher. He struck out five and allowed one run on three hits with two walks.

“It was probably the best we’ve seen of him as far as the execution of pitches, the quality and shape of the pitches, the competitiveness,” manager Matt Quatraro said.

Marsh (1-8) has made 14 appearances since his debut on June 30 and has learned from every one. Not only is he facing big league hitters for the first time this year, but he’s also improved his arsenal in several ways.

With the help of pitching coach Brian Sweeney and assistant pitching coach Zach Bove, Marsh tinkered with the grip on his slider to get more sweep. Marsh used it a lot Wednesday, keeping the White Sox off balance -- they whiffed eight times on 17 swings (47%) on the pitch.

He’s also added a sinker to get more ground balls, which has helped his four-seam get more whiffs. Each month Marsh has been in the Majors, his swing-and-miss has improved.

“It’s sharper stuff that’s harder,” Marsh said. “That sinker is something that’s a weapon now. … Adding new pitches and changing grips is not easy, but to see it come together and hopefully finish the season off strong and on a good note is something I really want to do.”

The Royals have also been impressed with Marsh’s composure as he’s encountered struggles. On Wednesday, right after the Royals scored three in the top of the seventh, Yoán Moncada led off the bottom of the frame with a hard-hit double. A swinging bunt and an error by shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. scored a run and put two on with no outs.

Marsh was looking for a double play against Gavin Sheets, but instead found himself in a 13-pitch battle with the left-handed hitter who has a .643 OPS and nine homers against righties this year.

“I was throwing everything I had at him,” Marsh said. “He kept fouling it off. You get to 3-2, and it just becomes, ‘Challenge.’”

Sheets fouled off seven consecutive pitches at one point before Marsh threw a fastball that got away from him for a ball, making it 3-2. Marsh went right back to the fastball but this time, it was better located at the top of the zone.

Sheets swung through it.

“I came out of mechanics a little bit and left things arm side,” Marsh said. “Guys won’t swing at that. For me, going into that last fastball was just drive it into the top of the zone. Make sure it’s over the plate.”

Matt Quatraro turned to reliever James McArthur -- who has not allowed a run in his last five outings -- and his sinker in hopes of a double play. Two pitches later, that’s what happened.

“That changed the game,” said second baseman Michael Massey, who homered again Wednesday and now has six homers against the White Sox this year. “That at-bat with Sheets was huge. Whoever won that was going to steal the momentum.

"... Mac coming out of the bullpen, [Quatraro] even said, ‘One pitch, double play right here.’ We all had that feeling once Marsh won the at-bat and Mac was coming in with that sinker, there was a pretty good chance we’re going to get out of it.”

The Royals need to make several changes to their pitching staff this offseason, but Marsh is turning into someone they can potentially rely on in a variety of roles in 2024. McArthur and Cruz have also shown good stuff in the last few weeks to set up roles next year.

“That’s the idea, right?” Quatraro said. “Keep giving them opportunities.”