Sox spoil solid start by Shields, fall 8-7 in extra innings

BOSTON (AP) - For the first time since he joined the Chicago White Sox, James Shields gave them a decent chance to win.

It was the bullpen that coughed up runs on Thursday against the Red Sox.

Shields held Boston to one run through five innings and left with a 4-1 lead in the sixth, but the Red Sox rallied to take the lead, squander it, and then send the game into extra innings before winning it 8-7 in the 10th on Xander Bogaerts' walkoff single.

"My first three outings weren't very good," he said. "So it's definitely positive.... Coming in here to Boston, one of the best teams, best hitting teams in the league, and to do what we did, three out of four, is pretty good."

After struggling in his first three starts for Chicago, getting just five outs against Cleveland on Saturday, Shields recorded his first scoreless first inning since joining the White Sox. He cruised into the sixth before walking the first two batters and giving way.

"That's how Shields is supposed to be. He's a competitor," outfielder Adam Eaton said. "It was good to see what we saw out of him today, for sure. We wish we would have got the win for him, but sometimes that's baseball."

Shields, who was not credited with a decision, had allowed 21 earned runs in 8 2/3 innings since the White Sox acquired him from the Padres on June 4. He has not picked up a win in seven starts since May 12.

Pitching two full innings for the first time in more than five years, Craig Kimbrel got out of a bases-loaded jam with nobody out in the 10th before Bogaerts delivered the game-winning single in the bottom half.

"We're staring a four-game sweep at home. And that's never a good thing," manager John Farrell said. "So you find a way to pull out all the stops. ... You do what you can with what you have in the moment."

Chicago led 3-0, 4-1 and 7-5 before Boston sent it into extra innings with a run in the seventh and another in the eighth.

The White Sox loaded the bases with nobody out in the 10th, but Kimbrel (1-3) got J.B. Shuck on an infield popup and then struck out Tim Anderson and Adam Eaton.

"We had some golden opportunities," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "We just couldn't hold them. We were walking some people, letting them have some good opportunities. We got ourselves into some good opportunities and they got out of them."

In the bottom half, Matt Purke (0-1) walked two before Bogaerts lined one up the middle and Mookie Betts scored easily from second.

In all, Kimbrel allowed one hit and walked two while striking out three in two innings for his first American League win.

"He shut it down," Bogaerts said. "I mean, that's how nasty he is. He's pretty filthy, one of the best closers in the game. And obviously that's what we all expect from him."

Jose Abreu hit a three-run homer and Alex Avila had four hits for Chicago, which has lost 27 of its last 40 games.

Betts, Bogaerts, Dustin Pedroia and Hanley Ramirez had two hits apiece for the Red Sox, who improved to 8-12 in June. Boston's leadoff hitter reached safely seven times in 10 innings.

Kimbrel, who came on to start the ninth, walked Brett Lawrie and gave up Avila's single. Avisail Garcia walked before the Red Sox closer retired the next three batters to protect the tie.

COMEBACKS

The White Sox led 4-1 before Boston scored four in the sixth to take a 5-4 lead. Then Junichi Tazawa relieved Tommy Layne with two men on in the seventh and gave up Abreu's three-run homer over the Green Monster that made it 7-5.

The Red Sox tied it to send it into extra innings, loading the bases in the seventh before pinch-hitter Travis Shaw launcher a long sacrifice fly. Bradley popped up a bunt, and Ramirez struck out to end the inning.

In the eighth, Marco Hernandez hit his first career double and scored on Pedroia's single to tie it 7-all.

ALL AVILA

Avila recorded the fourth four-hit game of his career. He is batting .349 during the day.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Red Sox: OF Chris Young pulled up grabbing his right leg after rounding first base on a ball hit off the Green Monster in the second inning. He was helped off the field with what the team said was a hamstring injury. He was placed on the disabled list after the game.

UP NEXT

White Sox: Open a three-game series at Toronto. Carlos Rodon will pitch against Aaron Sanchez.

Red Sox: Open a three-game series at Texas. David Price will face Nick Martinez.