KANSAS CITY -- The Royals' stout starting pitching and MJ Melendez's clutch hitting are proving to be a winning combination.

That formula worked Friday night, so why not use it again on Saturday?

After veteran right-hander Michael Wacha delivered seven scoreless innings, Melendez broke open a scoreless game in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run homer to center that lifted the Royals to a 3-0 victory over the White Sox at Kauffman Stadium.

The homer by Melendez needed a little help to reach home run territory as White Sox center fielder Dominic Fletcher leaped high and nudged the ball over the wall as the drive oozed off the tip of his glove.

On Friday, Melendez delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth to snap a 1-1 deadlock.

“We all know MJ is a supremely talented player,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “He’s hopefully coming into his own and can develop the consistency that makes the great ones be the great ones.”

The Royals (5-4) have a record above .500 for the first time since April 10, 2022, when they were 2-1. After a tough loss in the ninth inning last Wednesday in Baltimore, they’ve bounced back with three wins over the White Sox, in which Chicago scored just two runs in 27 innings.

Wacha, who is now 26-6 over his last three seasons, was masterful in limiting the White Sox to two hits through his seven innings. He struck out eight, walked only one and gave a red-hot starting rotation an eighth quality start in nine games.

“I felt like we had a good mix going,” Wacha said. “We were getting ahead and staying on the attack mode. Working both sides of the plate and getting weak contact at times. It ended up being a fun night.”

Wacha allowed a one-out double to No. 9 hitter Martín Maldonado in the sixth as the White Sox threatened to break on top. But Wacha wouldn’t let that happen, as he retired Andrew Benintendi on a groundout and then struck out Yoán Moncada with his signature changeup.

“We know he always has the good changeup,” Quatraro said of Wacha. “He also located his fastball. Got it up when he needed it and got it in when he needed it.”

The Royals finally broke through in the seventh when Salvador Perez led off with a single off the left-field wall and Melendez followed with his booming drive to center amidst a strong wind.

“He cut the wind,” Quatraro said. “He was ready to hit. [White Sox starter Chris] Flexen was really tough tonight and MJ got one in the middle and he didn’t miss.”

Melendez said his confidence continues to grow after getting consecutive game-winning hits in the late going.

“It’s a great feeling,” Melendez said. “That’s what winning baseball feels like. I’m not in that position unless we have great pitching. It’s that great pitching that is putting us in a position to win ballgames.”