Red Sox 10 - 2 White Sox
Final
  for this game

Red Sox, Lester resume series with ChiSox

Jul 30, 2011 - 2:41 PM

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(Sports Network) - Jon Lester and the Boston Red Sox are set for the second tilt of a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

Lester returned from the disabled list on Monday and allowed only one earned run in 5 1/3 innings. He threw 89 pitches and surrendered seven hits in that game against the Royals without figuring in the decision. He is 10-4 overall this season with a 3.23 ERA and is a brilliant 7-1 on the road with a 2.80 ERA.

Lester was crushed by the White Sox earlier this season and is just 2-3 lifetime versus Chicago with a 5.94 ERA.

Speaking of the White Sox, they are expected to give the ball to Philip Humber today. A righty with an 8-6 record and 3.27 ERA, Humber has pitched 113 innings, yielding 94 hits while striking out 73 batters.

Humber's only career start against the Red Sox came earlier this season when he earned a victory despite yielding four runs on nine hits in 7 2/3 innings.

Gavin Floyd worked seven innings and A.J. Pierzynski snapped a tie with a two- run homer as Chicago got past Boston, 3-1, in the opener of this three-game series on Friday.

Paul Konerko drove in the other run for the White Sox, winners in five of six. Floyd (9-9) allowed three hits and a run while fanning six and walking two.

Sergio Santos worked a perfect ninth to earn the save.

Chicago has now won 14 of its past 16 versus Boston, including a three-game sweep earlier in the year.

"I don't know. It seems like we always play them close, they're always good games," Pierzynski said when asked to what he can attribute his club's success against the perennial contenders. "I remember some games where they were slugfests and we came back late, but in this one we made the pitches and the plays when we had to."

Jarrod Saltalamacchia's solo homer was the lone offense for the Red Sox, who have dropped two in a row. Dustin Pedroia saw his AL-best hit streak ended at 25 games after going 0-for-4. He also failed to reach base for the first time in 37 contests.

Tim Wakefield (6-4) was denied in his first attempt to reach 200 career wins, ending up charged with three runs on three hits with five strikeouts over seven full frames.

"I thought about it a little bit before the game, but once I got through warmups and got to the mound, I was trying to get the win for us and not for me personally," said the veteran knuckleballer if that milestone weighed on his mind.

Boston first baseman Adrian Gonzalez was a late scratch due to a stiff neck and his status for this game is unknown. It was only the second time this year that he was held out of the starting lineup.






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