White Sox continue winning ways at Fenway Park
BOSTON — The way he's been pitching, a reporter told Phil Humber, people are starting to talk about him making the All-Star game.
The White Sox right-hander just shook his head.
"You don't hear me talking about it," he said after shutting the Boston batters down for seven innings Tuesday night to lead Chicago to a 10-7 victory over the Red Sox. "I don't really have any comment on that (the All-Star game). I'm just thankful for the results so far."
Humber (4-3) held Boston to six hits in seven innings before giving up three more in the eighth after the White Sox opened a 10-1 lead. In all, Humber was charged with four runs while walking one and striking out five in 7 2-3 innings — the first time in seven starts he has allowed more than three runs.
"Phil was outstanding. Outstanding," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "The guy keeps showing people, and proving himself, pitching against a good-hitting ballclub and doing it right. I could be sitting here talking good things about him all night."
The third overall pick in the 2004 draft, Humber has spent time with five organizations — three since December, when he was waived by the Royals, claimed by the Athletics and then waived by them and claimed by Chicago. He started the season in the bullpen, then moved into the rotation on April 9 and won just one of his first three starts.
But then Humber rattled off a string of strong outings: three straight starts with three hits or fewer, and six in a row without allowing more than three runs. That streak ended Tuesday when he left with a 10-2 lead and runners on first and third with two outs in the eighth inning.
Will Ohman relieved him and gave up a three-run homer to David Ortiz that made it 10-5.
"He threw the ball real good, mixed all of his pitches. I thought he was on his game," said Ortiz, who struck out swinging, grounded out and singled up the middle against Humber. "We're facing good pitching. We're not going to score 10 runs every game."
Alexei Ramirez tied his career high with four hits and also drove in three runs for Chicago, which has won six in a row at Fenway Park for its longest streak here since the "Go Go" Sox era of 1958-59. Chris Sale came on in the ninth after Boston cut the deficit to 10-7 and struck out Adrian Gonzalez looking on three pitches earn his second save.
Alfredo Aceves (2-1) lost for the first time in more than two years, allowing eight runs — six earned — on eight hits and three walks while striking out one. He had won 12 consecutive decisions for the Yankees and Red Sox in what had been the longest active streak since CC Sabathia in 2008.
But the White Sox scored four runs in the second, including a two-run single by Ramirez. He also singled and scored when Chicago scored four more in the sixth to chase Aceves and make it 10-1.
Ramirez had three RBIs while recording his second four-hit game in nine days. He also had the game-winning hit in the series opener Monday night, a two-run double that broke a sixth-inning tie.
Gordon Beckham had three hits for the White Sox, who have won two straight against Boston after losing four of their previous five games.
Despite their three-game losing streak, the Red Sox are 19-10 in May — the best record in the American League over the month. Adrian Gonzalez had 42 hits and 31 RBIs in the month, the first Red Sox player to top 40 and 30 in May, respectively, since Jim Rice in his AL MVP year of 1978.
Jason Varitek had three hits, including his second homer of the season. After Boston scored one more in the eighth on three hits off the Green Monster off Humber, Ohman relieved him and gave up Ortiz's homer.
Ohman got Mike Cameron, a defensive replacement for Carl Crawford, on a fly ball to right to end the inning.
The Red Sox got two more in the ninth when Josh Reddick hit a sacrifice fly and Drew Sutton hit a high flyball that right fielder Brent Lillibridge couldn't get at the Pesky Pole.
Sale came on and got Gonzalez on three straight pitches to end the game.
Notes: Crawford was out on an odd double play in the fifth, when he tried to steal second but had to turn back when Lowrie popped it up to center. The problem: Crawford had already taken a step toward third, and he didn't touch second on his way back. ... The Red Sox moved up the starting time of Saturday's game against the Oakland Athletics to 1:10 p.m. from 7:10 p.m. so that fans will be able to also watch the Bruins in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals. The hockey game between the Bruins and the Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. EDT. ... Chicago has won 12 of its last 14 at Fenway. During one stretch in 1958-59, the White Sox won seven in a row in Boston. ... The Red Sox activated RHP Bobby Jenks from the 15-day disabled list and optioned RHP Michael Bowden to Triple-A Pawtucket. Jenks pitched a scoreless inning in relief. ... Boston SS Marco Scutaro (side) has been cleared to resume baseball activities. RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka went for a second opinion on his injured right elbow. ... Red Sox RHP John Lackey made a rehab start in Pawtucket and allowed one run on three hits in 5 2-3 innings, striking out four. He threw 63 pitches. ... Aceves won his last 10 decisions with the Yankees before signing with Boston in the offseason. He made 54 relief appearances and four starts since.