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Peavy, White Sox aim to slow down Red Sox

Apr 28, 2012 - 2:42 PM (Sports Network) - Jake Peavy goes after his fourth win in as many starts this evening when the Chicago White Sox continue their four-game series with the Boston Red Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

After three-injury plagued seasons Peavy has been nothing short of spectacular this season for the White Sox and has started to resemble the pitcher who won 19 games and was the National League's Cy Young Award winner in 2007 with the San Diego Padres.

Peavy improved to 3-0 on Monday by tossing a three-hit shutout in Oakland to lower his earned run average on the year to 1.88.

"I feel like I can get better. I really do," said Peavy, who threw 71 of his 107 pitches for strikes. "I feel like I've got some room to grow.

"My arm is going to get a little bit stronger, once I can get my legs under me and get after it in the weight room between starts. I feel like I'll get stronger."

Peavy has split his two starts against the Red Sox, but has pitched to a 4.50 ERA in doing so.

Boston, meanwhile, will counter with a lefty in Jon Lester, who is still searching for his first win of the season. Lester was not impressive in his last outing on Monday against the Minnesota Twins, as he allowed five runs and six hits in seven innings. He also walked four, but was happy with the way he ended the game.

"I just got locked in," said Lester, who is 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA this season. "Nothing changed as far as physically or mechanically or anything. For whatever reason ... something got me locked in, and I started throwing the ball more aggressively downhill. Obviously the results were a lot better. I think it was six ground balls or five ground balls or something like that. Hopefully I can just carry those two innings over to my next one and get on a roll."

Lester has faced the White Sox seven times and is 3-3 with a 5.28 ERA.

Boston won its fifth straight game on Friday, as Darnell McDonald had two hits, including a three-run double, to go with four RBI and two runs scored to propel the hot-hitting Red Sox to a 10-3 win.

Reliever turned starter Daniel Bard (2-2) fanned six and allowed three runs -- two earned -- on six hits and one walk over six solid frames.

"It was unbelievable what the bats did out there today," said Bard. "Especially with how cold it was out there tonight. The guys made things really easy for me."

David Ortiz belted a two-run homer and scored twice for Boston, which has outscored its opponents 44-19 during its winning streak.

Paul Konerko smacked a solo homer for the White Sox, who have dropped four in a row.

John Danks (2-3) took the loss after allowing seven runs on six hits and four walks.

"We're in Chicago and we know it can be cold at the beginning of the season," said Danks. "Usually that's an advantage for the pitcher, but not tonight."

Chicago took four of six from the Red Sox last season.