Chicago Blows by Boston

Ellis Burks homered in his first at-bat back in Fenway Park and Ron Karkovice and Robin Ventura also connected into a strong tailwind Friday night, leading the Chicago White Sox over the Boston Red Sox 9-4.

Jack McDowell (3-0) became the first American League pitcher to win three games this season. He allowed four runs in seven innings and sent Boston to its first home loss of the year. He has won 10 straight April starts, a streak stretching back to 1991.

Terry Leach and Scott Radinsky each pitched an inning to finish for the White Sox.

With a 28 mph wind blowing toward left field, Burks and Karkovice hit solo homers over the Green Monster. Ventura’s two-run shot in the fourth inning landed in the bullpen behind right field.

Lance Johnson had a two-run double and Frank Thomas hit an RBI double in the fifth for Chicago. Joey Cora, who earlier had a pair of doubles, singled home the White Sox’s eighth run in the sixth inning. Burks drove in another run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth.

Burks, who came up with the Red Sox in 1987 and played for them until signing with Chicago as a free agent in January, received a standing ovation from many fans after homering in his first at-bat against Boston.