CHICAGO -- For a guy who had a chance to play for the best team in baseball, Mark Grudzielanek sure looked happy to win one for a team which has had its struggles.

Grudzielanek was close to being traded to the Tigers before Wednesday's game, but he ended up negotiating a new contract with the Royals before leading them to their second straight victory over the White Sox.

His three-run homer in the team's six-run third inning sparked a rousing 10-4 win, and he was just a double shy of hitting for the cycle.

"The actuality is, if they didn't see me as part of the team in the next few years, [the trade] probably would have happened," said Grudzielanek, who was manning his cell phone for long stretches before the game. "With both sides liking each other and being happy in the situation and believing in what we have here ... I believe this team can put together a very solid year and be a playoff-contending team very soon."

The 36-year-old second baseman signed a one-year deal with the Royals this past offseason, and he re-signed for 2007, with a player's option for 2008.

"He deserves it," Royals manager Buddy Bell said. "He's been a really good player for the whole year."

Grudzielanek's home run off Jose Contreras was the beginning of a wild third inning that didn't just break the offense out of a recent funk, but it also gave some comfort to pitcher Adam Bernero, who was starting just his third game of the year.

Bernero (1-1) pitched six scoreless innings to pick up the win in his second start since getting called up from Triple-A Omaha on Aug. 11. He held the White Sox in check and gave the Royals hope of winning the four-game series Thursday.

Bernero, who was released by the Phillies earlier in the year after one tough start, hadn't won a game in the Major Leagues as a starter since 2003. Adding to any potential nervousness, he was facing a very potent White Sox offense, even without Jermaine Dye in the lineup.

"That helps a lot when you get a lead like that," said the 29-year-old Bernero. "You can relax a little bit. Just stay aggressive and let those guys get themselves out."

Bernero pitched in similar fashion in his first start after getting called up to the Royals. He gave up one run in 5 2/3 innings in a tough 4-3 loss to the Indians.

"He's pitched really good in the two starts since he's been up here," said Bell, who just missed Bernero in two previous mutual stops, Detroit and Colorado. "His tempo is better than I ever remember. I don't want to say he's not poised, but he had a confidence about him that I don't remember in the past."

Grudzielanek singled in the first and added an RBI triple in the fourth. He didn't pretend he was unaware he was on the cusp of hitting for the cycle for the second time in his career. But he ended up flying out twice.

"After the triple, I said, 'Holy cow,'" said Grudzielanek, who hit for the cycle April 27, 2005, while with the Cardinals. "It happened so fast -- a few innings went by and all of a sudden I had three knocks. I had to register it. I'm like, 'I got two chances to hit a double here.' It was one of things that did cross my mind a couple times."

The only downside for Grudzielanek was a fielding error -- just his third of the year -- in the seventh.

"That's where the game bites you real quick, and it can do that," he said. "It wakes you up a little bit, but you come back tomorrow with a new attitude."

The third-inning output marked the fourth time the Royals scored six runs in an inning this year. Joey Gathright bunted for a single, and David DeJesus followed with a hit. Grudzielanek's fifth homer landed in the stands in left field. One out later, Emil Brown doubled. Brown scored on Reggie Sanders' ground-rule double, and Ryan Shealy followed with a two-run homer to left.

Contreras (11-5) gave up seven runs on 12 hits in his first career loss to the Royals. He's now 7-1 against them.

"He hung some pitches today," Grudzielanek said. "He got some pitches up that we took advantage of. A couple home runs, and we jumped on him."

The Royals added three runs in the eighth. DeJesus had a two-run single, and Mark Teahen added a run-scoring double off Neal Cotts.

Bernero got his first win since last season, when he went 4-3 in relief for the Braves, and his first as a starter since May 31, 2003, when he was with the Tigers.