Red Sox Take Series Versus Chicago With 7-3 Win
CHICAGO -- Henry Owens certainly wasn't at his best on a night when the Boston Red Sox left-hander's latest outing lasted only 64 pitches.
But when Owens was backed by a masterful performance by the Red Sox bullpen and a heavy dose of offense, an off-night didn't matter.
Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez and Jackie Bradley, Jr. homered and the Red Sox pounded out 12 hits in a 7-3 win over the Chicago White Sox in a battle of division leaders on Thursday night at U.S. Cellular Field.
The Red Sox won for the ninth time in 11 games despite Owens' shortened outing, which lasted only three-plus innings. Owens gave up two earned runs on two hits and was pulled after giving up a solo home run to Chicago's Avisail Garcia to start the fourth inning.
"It's disappointing," said Owens, who said he felt like he is getting closer to where he needs to be despite Thursday's struggles with his command.
With the bullpen rolling, the Red Sox (17-11) added two runs in the eighth inning capped by a David Ortiz RBI double. But a fifth-inning double play may have shifted things in Boston's favor after Chicago (19-10) trimmed a one-time three-run deficit to 4-3.
The White Sox got to within a run when Hector Sanchez drew a bases loaded walk after Melky Cabrera, Brett Lawrie and Avisail Garcia singled. With the bases still loaded, the White Sox failed to tie the score when Jackson flew out and Lawrie was thrown out at the plate.
Manager Robin Ventura challenged, claiming Hanigan violated the home plate collision rule. But following a lengthy video review, the call stood, allowing the Red Sox to cling to their slim lead.
Lawrie was visibly upset following the challenge, disagreeing that Hanigan hadn't blocked the plate.
"Obviously, I beat the throw," Lawrie said. "Yeah, he blocked me."
After Bradley homered in the sixth inning to extend Boston's lead to 5-3, the Red Sox added the two late run, building off the momentum of the fifth-inning double play.
"That was a momentum shift for us," Boston manager John Farrell said.
It stopped the White Sox in their tracks.
Following the play, Chicago managed only two hits the rest of the night as Boston's bullpen closed the door on the White Sox, who have now lost two straight games -- their first back-to-back home losses of the year.
Boston's bullpen played a major role as four Red Sox relievers combined to throw six scoreless innings.
"It was good," Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts said. "Owens had a bit of command issues and (the bullpen) came in and (reliever Matt) Barnes came in and got that huge double play.
"It was just a great game all around."
The Red Sox jumped out to a 4-1 lead, thanks to a pair of home runs off White Sox starter Erik Johnson, who was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte earlier on Thursday.
Ramirez's solo home run in the third inning followed up Pedroia's first-inning homer, the first of his three hits. Boston added another run in the third inning on a Hanigan RBI double, which drove in Brock Holt, who led off with a single. Holt drove in the fourth Red Sox run with a RBI fly that scored Travis Shaw, who tripled off Austin Jackson's glove.
NOTES: Red Sox 1B Hanley Ramirez returned to the lineup after missing one game with flu-like symptoms. ... Boston RHP Joe Kelly (right shoulder impingement) will make his first rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday night. He is 9-0 in his last 12 major league starts dating to Aug. 1, 2015. ... White Sox RHP Jake Petricka was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right hip impingement. ... RHP Erik Johnson was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte and started Thursday night's game. Johnson, who was with the White Sox from April 19 to April 24 but did not pitch, made six big-league starts last season. ... LHP John Danks was officially designated for assignment after going 0-4 with a 7.25 ERA in four starts this season, his 10th with the White Sox. ... RHP Tommy Kahnle was brought up from Triple-A Charlotte. Kahnle has made nine appearances, going 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA.
