Boston, MA – Jake Peavy held his former club in check over seven solid innings and the Boston Red Sox backed the effort with 15 hits in their 7-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.
Peavy (11-5), making his first appearance against the White Sox since being shipped from the club to Boston in late July, yielded two runs on five hits and a walk to pick up his third win with the Red Sox. The right-hander went 36-29 over four seasons with Chicago.
Jacoby Ellsbury had three hits, two runs scored and was one of six Red Sox with an RBI. David Ortiz, Mike Napoli, Jonny Gomes and Xander Bogaerts each had two hits and drove in a run in Boston's second win of this three-game set.
"Our starting rotation has been very consistent, our lineup 1-9 has a grind out approach," said Boston manager John Farrell. "But I think this team has played so well because of its overall depth."
The White Sox had won 10 of 12 before coming to Fenway Park. John Danks (4-11) was lit up for 11 hits and six runs -- five earned -- over five innings.
"He's good at seeing some weaknesses at people and he tried to exploit them," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of Peavy.
Peavy gave up one run apiece in the third and fourth innings that allowed the White Sox to tie the game at 2-2, but Boston produced three runs in the home fourth to jump in front for good.
Ellsbury cracked the Red Sox's third straight hit to begin the inning, with his ground-rule double scoring David Ross and moving Bogaerts to third. Bogaerts scored on a Dustin Pedroia ground out and Ortiz singled in Ellsbury for a 5-2 cushion.
Peavy set the White Sox down in order in the fifth and sixth, and Boston added a run in each of its turns at the plate in those frames. Bogaerts had a two- out RBI single in the fifth and Shane Victorino scored on a wild pitch the following inning to make it 7-2.
Napoli got the Red Sox on the board in the first with a two-out RBI single, but the White Sox answered in the third on an Alejandro De Aza ground out.
Back-to-back doubles from Napoli and Gomes in the bottom of the frame put Boston back on top briefly before Avisail Garcia tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth on a single to center.
Game Notes
Boston has won six of its last seven games ... The White Sox have lost 11 of their last 15 games against the Red Sox ... Boston acquired infielder John McDonald and cash considerations from the Philadelphia Phillies for minor league pitcher Nefi Ogando ... Chicago had only five hits.
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