CHICAGO (AP) – A.J. Pierzynski and Juan Uribe hit two-out, three-run homers off Tim Wakefield in the sixth inning Friday night, helping Jon Garland become the majors’ first 15-game winner as the Chicago White Sox beat the Boston Red Sox 8-4.

Pierzynski’s 13th homer followed singles by Aaron Rowand and Paul Konerko and broke a 1-1 tie.

After Joe Crede and Timo Perez singled, Uribe lifted his eighth homer to left, putting the White Sox up by six runs in what had been a pitchers’ duel.

Garland (15-4) gave up two runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings, including Johnny Damon’s solo homer in the seventh, and pitched out of several jams as the White Sox snapped a three-game losing streak.

Wakefield (8-9), who started strongly, surrendered nine hits and seven runs in 5 2-3 innings.

The veteran knuckleballer retired the first 10 batters before Rowand hit his second homer in as many nights to tie the game 1-1 in the fourth. Konerko, who had singled and moved to second on a walk, then tried to score on Crede’s single to left, but Manny Ramirez easily threw him out at the plate.

Boston got a two-out run in the fourth off Garland as Ramirez walked and Trot Nixon and Kevin Millar followed with singles.

Boston had first and third and no outs in the fifth after singles by Bill Mueller and Tony Graffanino, but Garland pitched out of it, getting two popouts and then inducing a long fly to center from David Ortiz. The Red Sox put runners at first and second with one out in the sixth before Garland fanned Doug Mirabelli and got Mueller to fly out to center.

The White Sox restored the lead to six in the seventh when Scott Podsednik singled, stole his major league-leading 50th base, went to third on catcher Mirabelli’s throwing error and scored on Rowand’s sacrifice fly.

Boston’s Adam Stern hit his first major league homer, a two-run shot, in the ninth.

Notes: White Sox RF Jermaine Dye was out of the lineup a second straight day, recovering from infected insect bites on his leg. … A beautiful 77-degree night is forecast to be followed by a searing heat wave. The projected temperature for Sunday’s series finale is 100. … Former Red Sox and White Sox catcher Carlton Fisk, a Hall of Famer, caught the ceremonial first pitch from Mr. T as part of a promotion. Fisk, who entered the Hall with a Red Sox cap, will have a statue honoring him unveiled next month at U.S. Cellular Field.

AP-ES-07-22-05 2257EDT

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