Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Adrian Beltre finished 4-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored as Boston took down Chicago, 6-1, in the first of four between the clubs at U.S. Cellular Field.
Victor Martinez posted three hits and drove in two runs for the Red Sox, who have won four of their last five. David Ortiz added a pair of RBI for Boston, which is still mathematically alive in the AL wild card race though 5 1/2 games behind the Yankees with six games remaining.
Clay Buchholz (17-7) allowed one run on five hits with five strikeouts and one walk over eight innings for the win.
Brent Morel knocked in the only run for the White Sox, whose four-game win streak was halted.
Mark Buehrle (12-13) was charged in defeat for 11 hits and four runs over six full frames.
The Red Sox picked up two runs in the first as Martinez singled with two outs, followed by a Beltre double and a two-run two-bagger for Ortiz.
A Martinez sacrifice fly in the third made it 3-0 for Boston, and Beltre knocked in Marco Scutaro with a single in the fifth.
A.J. Pierzynski started the home fifth with a single, then Carlos Quentin was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Morel's sac fly put the White Sox on the board.
Scutaro doubled off Scott Linebrink to start the seventh, was sacrificed to third and came in on a Martinez base hit and the visitors led 5-1.
Buchholz worked around a one-out single in the home seventh, then turned aside the Pale Hose in order in the eighth to complete his outing.
Scott Atchison shut the door in the ninth despite allowing a base hit to Manny Ramirez.
Buchholz improved to 7-2 over his last nine decisions dating back to July 26...Scutaro was 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and scored three runs...Beltre failed to go deep in the contest, but his 28 HRs all as a third baseman is tied for second all-time in Red Sox history with Butch Hobson (1979) and Rico Petrocelli (1971)...Hobson is first with 30 HRs at the hot corner in 1977...Prior to the game, it was announced that White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen will return to manage the club in 2011, per a Chicago newspaper.