White Sox avoid four-game sweep

Jayson Nix drove in three runs and the Chicago White Sox scored four times in both the second and third innings, beating the Boston Red Sox, 9-5, on Thursday night to avoid a four-game sweep.

Chicago battered rookie Junichi Tazawa for all nine runs just five days after he pitched six scoreless innings in a 14-1 win over the New York Yankees. Infielder Nick Green pitched two scoreless innings for Boston.

The margin was so big that Boston Manager Terry Francona called on Green to pitch for the first time since he reached the majors in 2004.

Before the game, the Red Sox activated reliever Billy Wagner and released struggling starter Brad Penny. Thursday’s moves came two days after the Red Sox obtained Wagner in a trade with the New York Mets.