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(Sports Network) - Bostons run to the top of the American League East was pretty amazing given its slow start to the season. Keenan Allen Jersey . It apparently hasnt impressed Chicago very much though. The White Sox will try to post their longest winning streak at Fenway Park in 52 years as they continue a three-game series with the Red Sox this evening. Boston came into yesterdays opener in first place in the AL East and winners in 13 of its past 16 games. However, Chicago denied Red Sox hurler Jon Lester his eighth win of the season by tagging the lefty for seven runs over 5 2/3 innings on the way to a 7-3 victory. The White Sox, who won six of seven versus the Red Sox last year, improved to 11-2 in the past 13 games of this series and have won five straight at Fenway Park for the first time since 1982. They havent won six straight at the historic ballpark since a seven-game run from July 12, 1958-May 14, 1959. Alexei Ramirez and Carlos Quentin both drove in two runs during a four-run sixth inning and Paul Konerko homered to help Chicago snap a three-game slide and improve to 3-5 on a 10-game road trip. Jake Peavy gave up three runs over seven innings to earn the win. It says a lot about this team to come back after a few tough days and grind out a win, Peavy said. Dustin Pedroia knocked in two runs and Adrian Gonzalez had a solo blast for the Red Sox, losers of two straight games after winning five in a row. Lester, meanwhile, lost for the first time since April 12 as the Red Sox fell into a tie with the Yankees for first place. I didnt think he commanded very well. He scattered a lot of pitches, Red Sox manager Terry Francona said of his starter. We have to get him back to establishing fastball, changeup, breaking ball and using that cutter to put people away. Gonzalezs homer was his 10th of the season and he is hitting .347 in May with nine homers and 31 RBI. Chicago could see a familiar face in the later innings as Boston is expected to activate Bobby Jenks from the disabled list. Jenks, a former closer for the White Sox, hasnt pitched since May 1 due to a right biceps strain. Bostons Alfredo Aceves has been excellent since injuries to starters Daisuke Matsuzaka and John Lackey forced him into the rotation. In two starts, he has allowed just two runs over 11 innings with eight strikeouts. The right-hander got a no-decision in his first start of the season against the Cubs on May 21, but won his seventh career start on Thursday in Detroit. Backed by plenty of offense, Aceves allowed a run on five hits over six innings of a 14-1 triumph. Aceves, 29, is 2-0 with a 2.22 ERA in 13 total appearances this season and 2-0 with a 4.05 ERA in five career games versus the White Sox. He has faced Chicago once before as a starter back in 2008 while with the Yankees. The White Sox will move Philip Humber up a day to pitch tonights game after scheduled starter Gavin Floyd pitched in relief on Saturday. He will go tomorrow instead. The right-handed Humber has thrown at least seven innings in five of his last six starts, including at Toronto on Thursday. He allowed just a run on six hits over 7 2/3 innings, but posted a second straight no-decision in his clubs late 3-1 win. Humber, 28, is 3-3 with a season-best 2.85 ERA in 11 games (nine starts) this year and faces Boston for the first time in his career. Custom Chargers Jersey . Less than 24 hours after posting their highest run total of the season, the Red Sox seek a sweep of a quick two-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays. Kellen Clemens Chargers Jersey . Son scored in the 62nd minute, when he let fly from outside the penalty area to send the ball inside the top right corner. Three Gladbach defenders failed to close down the South Korean. ATLANTA -- Its over. This time, the Indiana Pacers had a successful regular-season trip to Atlanta. David West scored 22 points, Paul George added 18 and the NBA-leading Pacers beat the Hawks 89-85 on Tuesday night. "This has been a tough place for us, but I thought we came in with the right motivation tonight," West said. "They blitzed us the last time we were down here." The Pacers most recent win in Atlanta came last May in the clinching Game 6 of their first-round playoff series. But Indiana (38-10) had dropped its last 12 regular-season games at the Hawks, including a 97-87 decision on Jan. 8. "I dont have to answer questions about it anymore, so thats good," Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. "Weve had some struggles here, but its not anything we were losing sleep over." Atlanta (25-22) failed to place a starter in double figures. It had won two straight and five of seven. Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver had nine points apiece for the Hawks. All-Star forward Paul Millsap went 2 for 11 from the field and finished with seven points. Teague made a 3-pointer to give Atlanta a 41-35 lead with 1:06 left in the second quarter, but the Hawks were outscored 38-16 over the next 17 minutes. Cartier Martins 3 cut Indianas lead to 86-84 with 14.9 seconds left. C.J. Watson and Danny Granger then combined for three free throws to help the Pacers hold on for the win. "Offensively, it just wasnt one of our better nights," Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. "I think you have to give Indiana and their defence credit for that." Elton Brand, a 14-year veteran, had 12 points and was the only Hawk to score in double figures before Mike Scott scored nine oof his 15 points in the fourth quarter. Vincent Brown Chargers Jersey. Scott said its no surprise that Atlantas offence couldnt get much going against a defence that holds opponents to just 90.2 points a game, lowest in the NBA. "Theyre very good," Scott said. "Thats why theyre the best team in the league defensively. We just missed open shots and couldnt get it in." The Pacers had not won in the regular season at Philips Arena since Dec. 22, 2006. "I thought our resolve took over," West said. "We were really precise with our movement and what we wanted to do. And we made plays when we needed to make plays." Ian Mahinmi gave Indiana its biggest lead of the game with a tip-in that made it 73-57 with 8:10 left. Pacers guard Lance Stephenson hit the floor hard on a layup at the 7:56 mark of the third, falling over Millsap in the lane and landing on his left shoulder and hip. Stephenson then converted the three-point play to make it 55-47, but he sat out the last 16 minutes. George stole the ball from rookie point guard Dennis Schroder late in the fourth and scored a fast-break layup to make it 82-74. "Our guys buckled down on the defensive end," Vogel said. "(Atlanta) made a few shots in the last minute or two, but for the most part we held a pretty explosive team down to 85 points. Thats a pretty good effort." NOTES: Indiana improved to 23-0 when holding opponents under 90 points. ... The Pacers are 10-3 since the loss in Atlanta on Jan. 8. ... Korver extended his NBA record to 116 consecutive games with a 3-pointer. Korver began his streak last season in Atlantas second game -- a win at Oklahoma City. ... The Pacers are 15-8 on the road, best in the Eastern Conference. ' ' ' |
