BOSTON — Jake Peavy said he struggled throughout this start. The results certainly didn’t show it.

Peavy, making just his fourth start after working back from season-ending shoulder surgery last July, scratched through seven solid innings to help the Chicago White Sox rebound from a pair of tough losses with a 7-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on Monday night.

“It was just a grind. I really had nothing,” Peavy said after his 112-pitch effort of the eve of his 30th birthday. “A start like that can make or break your season. I think my arm’s still getting stronger on a daily basis.”

Alexei Ramirez and Carlos Quentin each had a pair of RBIs in a four-run sixth inning as the Chicago White Sox snapped Jon Lester’s seven-game winning streak.

Chicago lost at Toronto in 14 innings on Saturday and 13-4 on Sunday. The White Sox won for the fifth straight time at Fenway Park, the first time they’ve done that since 1982.

“We did a great job,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “We had one the best lefties on the mound and made him throw (a lot) of pitches.”

But it was Peavy, the 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner, that was able to work his way through a challenging lineup on a night that he didn’t feel right from the beginning.

“I think I’m going to have to alter my program on the day’s I pitch, throw a little longer to see if I can get loose,” he said. “I kind of felt looser as we got later in the game.”

Paul Konerko added a solo homer for the White Sox, who halted a three-game losing skid and won for the 11th time in their last 13 games against the Red Sox.

Adrian Gonzalez hit a solo homer for Boston, which lost its second straight but only its fourth in its last 17 games.

Peavy (2-0) held Boston to three runs, six hits, striking out two and not walking anyone.

Jesse Crain got two outs, but was hit on the side by Gonzalez’s hard grounder, and Matt Thornton recorded the final four outs.
With the score tied at 3 in the sixth, Chicago chased Lester (7-2) with four runs. Alex Rios and Gordon Beckham, back in the lineup after missing the previous two games after getting hit below the left eye with a relay throw, singled. Juan Pierre walked to load the bases before Ramirez’s bloop fell in behind first baseman Gonzalez for a two-run double. Dan Wheeler relieved and Quentin singled in two more, making it 7-3.

Right-handed hitting Ramirez said through a translator that he was surprised that Lester, a lefty, faced him with Wheeler, a right-hander, throwing in the bullpen.

Lester gave up seven runs, eight hits, walked and struck out four apiece in 5 2-3 innings, halting his eight-game unbeaten stretch. He gave up eight runs in his only career start against the White Sox last season.

Lester didn’t look sharp at the start either, allowing a pair of runs in the first as he struggled with his control.

“He was scattering a lot of pitches,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.

Lester agreed that he was fighting with his control.

“It was just one of those nights where I just battled myself and couldn’t get in a rhythm,” he said. “The ball was up. When I actually did throw it over the plate, it was up.”

Chicago had increased its lead to 3-1 in the third when Konerko homered off an advertisement above the Green Monster seats before Boston tied it with two runs in the bottom of the inning. It was his 376th career homer, tying him for 66th all-time with former White Sox and Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk, who was in Fenway Park and shown on the center field video board as a one of Boston’s legends.

Dustin Pedroia’s two-run single tied the game. The former AL MVP had been just 3 for 30 with three RBIs with runners in scoring position and less than two outs.

The White Sox had grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first. Ramirez singled and Quentin was hit by a pitch, the first of two times that Lester hit him in the game. After Konerko singled to load the bases, A.J. Pierzynski drove in a pair with a single up the middle.

Gonzalez homered into the White Sox bullpen to cut it to 2-1 in the bottom of the inning.

“I was telling everybody in the world about Adrian,” Peavy said about his former teammate in San Diego.

Notes: Quentin entered the game with nine hit by pitches, leading the AL … White Sox DH-1B Adam Dunn, hitless in 38 at-bats against left-handed pitching this season, was taken out of the lineup against lefty Lester. But Guillen was sticking by him. “I know he’s had a tough year,” Guillen said. “I hope he’s not thinking, ‘They paid me all this money.’ I talked to him in Toronto and told him don’t worry about it. As long as he’s healthy he’s going to be in the lineup.” Dunn signed a $56-million, 4-year contract as a free agent during the offseason. … Francona said RHP Bobby Jenks, who made his second rehab appearance with Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday, is expected to be activated off the 15-day DL Tuesday. He was sidelined with a right biceps strain. … Francona also said Red Sox LHP reliever Franklin Morales, acquired from Colorado on May 19, had an MRI Monday on his strained left forearm. … Guillen switched Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s starters. Gavin Floyd, who took the loss in relief of Saturday’s 14-inning game in Toronto, will now go in Wednesday’s series finale. Phil Humber was moved up to Tuesday.

BOSTON — Jake Peavy said he struggled throughout this start. The results certainly didn’t show it.

Peavy, making just his fourth start after working back from season-ending shoulder surgery last July, scratched through seven solid innings to help the Chicago White Sox rebound from a pair of tough losses with a 7-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on Monday night.

“It was just a grind. I really had nothing,” Peavy said after his 112-pitch effort of the eve of his 30th birthday. “A start like that can make or break your season. I think my arm’s still getting stronger on a daily basis.”

Alexei Ramirez and Carlos Quentin each had a pair of RBIs in a four-run sixth inning as the Chicago White Sox snapped Jon Lester’s seven-game winning streak.

Chicago lost at Toronto in 14 innings on Saturday and 13-4 on Sunday. The White Sox won for the fifth straight time at Fenway Park, the first time they’ve done that since 1982.

“We did a great job,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “We had one the best lefties on the mound and made him throw (a lot) of pitches.”

But it was Peavy, the 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner, that was able to work his way through a challenging lineup on a night that he didn’t feel right from the beginning.

“I think I’m going to have to alter my program on the day’s I pitch, throw a little longer to see if I can get loose,” he said. “I kind of felt looser as we got later in the game.”

Paul Konerko added a solo homer for the White Sox, who halted a three-game losing skid and won for the 11th time in their last 13 games against the Red Sox.

Adrian Gonzalez hit a solo homer for Boston, which lost its second straight but only its fourth in its last 17 games.

Peavy (2-0) held Boston to three runs, six hits, striking out two and not walking anyone.

Jesse Crain got two outs, but was hit on the side by Gonzalez’s hard grounder, and Matt Thornton recorded the final four outs.
With the score tied at 3 in the sixth, Chicago chased Lester (7-2) with four runs. Alex Rios and Gordon Beckham, back in the lineup after missing the previous two games after getting hit below the left eye with a relay throw, singled. Juan Pierre walked to load the bases before Ramirez’s bloop fell in behind first baseman Gonzalez for a two-run double. Dan Wheeler relieved and Quentin singled in two more, making it 7-3.

Right-handed hitting Ramirez said through a translator that he was surprised that Lester, a lefty, faced him with Wheeler, a right-hander, throwing in the bullpen.

Lester gave up seven runs, eight hits, walked and struck out four apiece in 5 2-3 innings, halting his eight-game unbeaten stretch. He gave up eight runs in his only career start against the White Sox last season.

Lester didn’t look sharp at the start either, allowing a pair of runs in the first as he struggled with his control.

“He was scattering a lot of pitches,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.

Lester agreed that he was fighting with his control.

“It was just one of those nights where I just battled myself and couldn’t get in a rhythm,” he said. “The ball was up. When I actually did throw it over the plate, it was up.”

Chicago had increased its lead to 3-1 in the third when Konerko homered off an advertisement above the Green Monster seats before Boston tied it with two runs in the bottom of the inning. It was his 376th career homer, tying him for 66th all-time with former White Sox and Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk, who was in Fenway Park and shown on the center field video board as a one of Boston’s legends.

Dustin Pedroia’s two-run single tied the game. The former AL MVP had been just 3 for 30 with three RBIs with runners in scoring position and less than two outs.

The White Sox had grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first. Ramirez singled and Quentin was hit by a pitch, the first of two times that Lester hit him in the game. After Konerko singled to load the bases, A.J. Pierzynski drove in a pair with a single up the middle.

Gonzalez homered into the White Sox bullpen to cut it to 2-1 in the bottom of the inning.

“I was telling everybody in the world about Adrian,” Peavy said about his former teammate in San Diego.

Notes: Quentin entered the game with nine hit by pitches, leading the AL … White Sox DH-1B Adam Dunn, hitless in 38 at-bats against left-handed pitching this season, was taken out of the lineup against lefty Lester. But Guillen was sticking by him. “I know he’s had a tough year,” Guillen said. “I hope he’s not thinking, ‘They paid me all this money.’ I talked to him in Toronto and told him don’t worry about it. As long as he’s healthy he’s going to be in the lineup.” Dunn signed a $56-million, 4-year contract as a free agent during the offseason. … Francona said RHP Bobby Jenks, who made his second rehab appearance with Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday, is expected to be activated off the 15-day DL Tuesday. He was sidelined with a right biceps strain. … Francona also said Red Sox LHP reliever Franklin Morales, acquired from Colorado on May 19, had an MRI Monday on his strained left forearm. … Guillen switched Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s starters. Gavin Floyd, who took the loss in relief of Saturday’s 14-inning game in Toronto, will now go in Wednesday’s series finale. Phil Humber was moved up to Tuesday.

May 30, 2011 – International League (IL) Charlotte Knights
FORT MILL, S.C. – Prior to tonight’s game at Knights Stadium, the Chicago White Sox purchased the contracts of right-handed pitchers Brian Bruney and Jeff Marquez from Charlotte. The White Sox also recalled right-handed pitcher Lucas Harrell on Sunday while the Knights were in Syracuse and have now optioned Harrell to Charlotte following yesterday’s game in Toronto.

Bruney, 29, was 1-0 with a 1.31 ERA (3 ER/20.2 IP), seven saves and 30 strikeouts in 19 relief appearances with the Knights in 2011. He appeared in 249 major-league games (one start) with Arizona (2004-05), New York-AL (2006-09) and Washington (2010), going 17-12 with a 4.52 ERA (120 ER/239.0 IP) and 13 saves.

Marquez, 26, was 3-4 with a 3.97 ERA (21 ER/47.2 IP) and one complete game in nine starts with the Knights this season. He spent the majority of 2010 with Charlotte, going 8-9 with a 4.48 ERA (72 ER/144.2 IP) in 27 games (26 starts) and made one relief appearance with the White Sox (2 ER/1.0 IP).

Harrell, 25, was recalled prior to yesterday’s game in Toronto and allowed four runs over 4.0 IP. He is 4-2 with a 3.54 ERA (19 ER/48.1 IP) in nine games (eight starts) with Charlotte in 2011.

The Charlotte Knights are the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. For ticket or event information, please contact the Knights front office at (704) 357-8071 or (803) 548-8050 or visit our website at for more information.

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CHICAGO (WSCR) Before the opening game of their three-game series with the Boston Red Sox, the Chicago White Sox made four roster moves.

The White Sox called up right-handed pitchers Brian Bruney and Jeff Marquez from Class AAA Charlotte.

In addition, the team designated infielder Dallas McPherson for assignment and optioned right-handed pitcher Lucas Harrell to Charlotte.

In 20.2 innings pitched, the 29-year old Bruney posted a 1-0 record with a 1.31 earned run average and seven saves. He’s appeared in 249 major-league games in his eight-year career going 17-12 with a 4.52 ERA (120 ER/239.0 IP) and 13 saves.

Marquez was 3-4 with a 3.97 ERA (21 ER/47.2 IP) and one complete game in nine starts with the Knights this season.

McPherson was signed by the White Sox as a free agent on November 10, 2010. In 11 games with the White Sox this season, he went 2-for-15.

Harrell was recalled prior to Sunday’s game in Toronto and allowed four runs over four innings pitched. He is 4-2 with a 3.54 ERA (19 ER/48.1 IP) in nine games (eight starts) with Charlotte this season.

BOSTON — The Chicago White Sox called on some relief help, purchasing the contracts of right-handers Brian Bruney and Jeff Marquez from Triple-A Charlotte.

To make room on the 25-man roster, infielder Dallas McPherson was designated for assignment and pitcher Lucas Harrell was optioned to Charlotte.

Bruney, 29, was 1-0 with a 1.31 ERA in 19 outings at Charlotte. He had seven saves and 30 strikeouts. He has 249 games of major-league experience with the Diamondbacks, Yankees and Nationals. He has a career 4.52 ERA in the major leagues.

Marquez, 26, was 3-4 with a 3.97 ERA and one complete game in nine starts with Charlotte. He made one relief appearance with the White Sox last season.

McPherson had just two hits in 15 at-bats after joining the White Sox when Mark Teahen went on the disabled list earlier this month. Harrell pitched four innings Sunday, the same day he had been officially recalled.

The White Sox’s 40-man roster is at 37 after the moves.

Doug Padilla covers the White Sox for ESPNChicago.com.

(Sports Network) – Riding a three-start win streak, Jon Lester seeks to become
baseball’s first eight-game winner and give the Boston Red Sox their first
home win over the Chicago White Sox in five games this evening in the opener
of a three-game series at Fenway Park.

Lester has won seven straight decisions since his lone loss of the season on
April 12 and did struggle a bit during a three-start stretch in mid-May in
which he allowed 14 runs in 17 1/3 innings. He went 2-0 in that span though
and then turned in a gem versus the Indians on Wednesday.

Though the 27-year-old lefty got plenty of backing in a 14-2 win, Lester did
his part by holding Cleveland to just three hits and a walk over six scoreless
innings, striking out seven. He retired 15 straight at one point and did not
allow a runner past second base.

“Obviously it’s good. Takes a lot of pressure off of not only me, but the
defense,” Lester said about working with a big lead. “You don’t have to be
perfect.”

Lester is 7-1 on the season with a 3.36 earned run average in 11 starts and is
the AL’s lone seven-game winner so far.

The former second-round pick is 2-2 with a 4.99 ERA in five career starts
against the White Sox and will try to get the Red Sox on track in this series.
Chicago won six of seven versus Boston last year and is 10-2 in the past 12
meetings, a span that includes a four-game winning streak at Fenway Park, its
longest at the historical venue since another four-game run during the 1987
season.

If the White Sox can pick up another win today, they may have the Tigers to
thank. Boston plated 42 runs over a five-game winning streak, a run it
extended in the first game of a doubleheader with Detroit on Sunday with a 4-3
victory. David Ortiz hit a pinch-hit go-ahead homer in the top of the ninth
inning off Tigers’ closer Jose Valverde and Jonathan Papelbon notched his 10th
save of the season.

“I know he has a good fastball and a good splitter,” Ortiz said of Valverde.
“It’s not like you have a lot of options when you come off the bench to pinch-
hit. You just have to look for a good pitch and he gave it to me.”

Mike Cameron and Dustin Pedroia each had solo shots, but the Red Sox would not
cross the plate in the nightcap, falling 3-0 after Detroit’s Justin Verlander
pitched into the eighth inning to hold Boston’s offense in check.

Josh Beckett worked six innings and gave up two runs for the Red Sox, who
still lead the Yankees by a game for first place in the AL East.

Chicago comes to town having lost the final three games of its four-game
series with Toronto, getting blasted out of town, 13-4, in Sunday’s finale.
John Danks fell to 0-8 on the season after giving up a season-high nine runs
— six in a 51-pitch first inning — and three homers over four innings.

Danks won a career-high 15 games last year, but is the first White Sox starter
to open a season 0-8 since Eddie Smith went 0-10 in 1942.

“There’s nothing you can do about it. [The Blue Jays] swung the bats good
today,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.

Carlos Quentin and Ramon Castro both hit homers for the White Sox, who fell to
2-5 on a 10-game road trip.

One day shy of his 30th birthday, White Sox starter Jake Peavy will attempt to
get his club back in the win column.

Peavy threw a three-hit shutout versus Cleveland on May 18, but saw his last
start limited to just three innings at Texas on Tuesday because of a two hour
and 58 minute rain delay. The right-hander gave up two runs and five hits
before his exit.

Peavy will face Boston for just the second time in his career and first since
June 24, 2007 with the Padres. He took the loss on that day, allowing three
runs and nine hits over five innings.

The Sports Network