CHICAGO -- Left-hander Jeff Locke was mostly masterful as he helped keep the Pittsburgh Pirates on a roll on Wednesday.

Locke worked five shutout innings before giving up two runs in the sixth as the Pirates claimed a 3-2 interleague decision over the Chicago White Sox and their seventh straight victory.

"He had five masterful innings, he retired the first nine hitters he faced," said Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle. "Fastball both sides of the plate, he threw enough curve balls and changeups to keep them off the fastball and made it quicker. He hit his spots. It was a real good overall outing."

Jung Ho Kang's first-inning home run gave the Pirates a lead they never surrendered. The two-run shot to right, his fourth of the season, provided an early 3-0 advantage as the Pirates went on to their third in-a-row over the White Sox.

Chicago dropped its sixth straight.

"I realize that Danks has really good command, good control on his pitches," Kang said through a translator. "I thought going for first pitch -- because the pitcher goes for the first strike -- was the best decision I could have made."

Locke (4-3) worked six innings for the victory while Chicago left-hander John Danks (3-7) suffered his third straight loss.

Pittsburgh right-hander Mark Melancon worked a one-two-three ninth for his 22nd save.

The Pirates maintained the shutout until the sixth when Locke allowed four straight runners to reach.

Chicago left fielder Melky Cabrera's two-out double off Locke scored center fielder Adam Eaton.

That broke a 30-inning White Sox scoreless streak and also snapped a run of 35 consecutive shutout innings by the Pirates.

Right fielder Avisail Garcia later doubled to left, driving in Cabrera to trim the Pirate lead to 3-2.

Locke departed after six innings. He allowed two runs on three hits, struck out eight and walked two.

"He got us to a good point in the game," Hurdle said. "A couple of walks in the sixth complicated things and they came up with some timely hits. ... (But) he made the pitches he needed to put the inning away."

After his rocky first inning, Danks remained in the game through the seventh and gave up only two hits after the first. He gave up three runs on five hits and struck out four.

"Besides the first inning, Johnny (Danks) pitched great," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "We ended up scratching and clawing and getting to one run and not being to finally tie it up."

First innings have been troublesome all season as Chicago has been outscored 56-19 in the opening frame.

"I don’t know if you necessarily have an answer for it," Ventura said. "If they knew it they wouldn't be giving up runs in the first inning. But it is definitely concerning to be able to get through that first inning and not give up anything."

Pirates designated hitter Andrew McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Cabrera had the same for the White Sox.

The Pirates jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

Second baseman Josh Harrison led off with a double to left, reached third on center fielder Starling Marte's grounder and scored on McCutchen's base hit to center.

Kang then launched a first-pitch homer to right against Danks that scored McCutcheon for the 3-0 lead.

Ventura was ejected in the bottom of the fourth after center fielder Adam Eaton was tagged out at second while trying to steal. It was 11th time in Ventura's managerial career that he was tossed.

NOTES: Pirates CF Starling Marte left the game in the ninth inning with left ankle discomfort. ... Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen batted third and made the most of a rare designated hitter assignment with a first-inning RBI single to center. ... The Pirates swept their last two series and lead the major leagues with seven this season. ... Pittsb