Red Sox look to continue roll vs. White Sox

BOSTON -- Boston's Drew Pomeranz and Chicago's James Shields have been nothing if not consistent lately.

That's been a positive for the Red Sox, but a negative for the White Sox.

Pomeranz (10-4, 3.46 ERA) has won a career-high four consecutive decisions and has not lost in nine starts since June 11 while Shields (2-3, 6.19 ERA) is without a victory in his previous five outings.

Pomeranz and Shields square off on Saturday night as the Red Sox and White Sox get together for the third game of their four-game weekend series at Fenway Park.

Boston (61-49) won Friday night's affair 3-2 on a walk-off solo home run by Mitch Moreland in the 11th inning, his third career and first walk-off blast with the Red Sox.

It was the Red Sox's 13th extra-inning game of the season (10-3) and their seventh at home (6-1).

"It would be a lot more fun to win them in nine I think, but as long as we're getting the win I think we'll take it," Moreland said. "It's always fun to do that and carry a little momentum into the next day."

And the cherry on top? Boston extended its lead atop the American League East to three games after the New York Yankees' 7-2 loss to the Cleveland Indians on Friday.

Meanwhile, Chicago (41-66) dropped its fourth straight game and lost for the 17th time in 20 games since the All-Star break.

"I think it's something where we just keep grinding," said White Sox reliever Aaron Bummer, who served up the walk-off homer to Moreland. "One of the things our coaches and our staff preach is getting better each day. Come out of the yard a little bit better than we did the day before."

After going 3-5 with a 4.59 ERA in 14 outings with Boston after being acquired from San Diego last year, Pomeranz has better resembled the All-Star pitcher he was with the Padres.

The Red Sox have won nine of Pomeranz's 13 starts this season, and the southpaw is an impressive 6-2 with a 3.64 ERA over 11 starts at Fenway in 2017.

Pomeranz held the Kansas City Royals to a run on seven hits and one walk with four strikeouts in a 6 2/3-inning no-decision in his last outing July 30 at Fenway.

On May 31, Pomeranz tossed a season-high seven innings and also allowed just one run on seven hits in a victory against the White Sox in Chicago, walking none while fanning eight.

Pomeranz is 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in three career games (two starts) opposite the White Sox.

Tim Anderson is the only active Chicago player who has drive in a run against Pomeranz, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Leury Garcia is 2-for-6 while Jose Abreu is 1-for-6 with three strikeouts.

Shields has not fared well historically at Fenway or against the Red Sox, going 9-13 with a 4.40 ERA in 27 starts versus Boston. At Fenway, he is 2-9 with a 5.42 mark over 14 starts.

The former All-Star with the Tampa Bay Rays put up an ugly 9.00 ERA in five July starts and has given up three home runs in a game three times since returning from the disabled list on June 18.

Shields was tagged for three homers in Monday's start against the Toronto Blue Jays. The right-hander allowed a season high-tying six runs on eight hits and two walks with six punch outs in a six-inning no-decision.

Three of Eduardo Nunez's 13 hits versus Shields have been home runs, and he has driven in four total against him. Hanley Ramirez (10-for-36, .278) has a home run and three RBI off him.

On the injury front, Ramirez left Friday's game in the 10th inning with left oblique stiffness/soreness and will be re-evaluated Saturday.

Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia (left knee inflammation) resumed baseball activities on Friday for the first time since being placed on the DL on Aug. 1.

Chicago's Avisail Garcia (sprained right thumb) took live batting practice before Friday's game and could return from the DL without a rehab assignment, manger Rick Renteria said.