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One-time reject pitching like an All-Star

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Phil Humber delivered a victory for the Chicago White Sox. Humber has been steady, allowing more than three runs just once — he allowed four in Tuesday’s 10-7 win — in seven starts.

BOSTON » The way he’s been pitching, a reporter told Phil Humber, people are starting to talk about him making the All-Star game.

The White Sox right-hander just shook his head.

"You don’t hear me talking about it," he said after shutting the Boston batters down for seven innings Tuesday to lead Chicago to a 10-7 victory over the Red Sox. "I don’t really have any comment on that (the All-Star Game). I’m just thankful for the results so far."

Humber (4-3) held Boston to six hits in seven innings before giving up three more in the eighth after the White Sox opened a 10-1 lead. In all, Humber was charged with four runs while walking one and striking out five in 7 2/3 innings — the first time in seven starts he has allowed more than three runs.

"Phil was outstanding. Outstanding," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "The guy keeps showing people, and proving himself, pitching against a good-hitting ballclub and doing it right. I could be sitting here talking good things about him all night."

The third overall pick in the 2004 draft, Humber has spent time with five organizations — three since December, when he was waived by the Royals, claimed by the Athletics and then waived by them and claimed by Chicago. He started the season in the bullpen, then moved into the rotation on April 9 and won just one of his first three starts.

But then Humber rattled off a string of strong outings: three straight starts with three hits or fewer, and six in a row without allowing more than three runs. That streak ended Tuesday when he left with a 10-2 lead and runners on first and third with two outs in the eighth inning.

Will Ohman relieved him and gave up a three-run homer to David Ortiz that made it 10-5.

"He threw the ball real good, mixed all of his pitches. I thought he was on his game," said Ortiz, who struck out swinging, grounded out and singled up the middle against Humber. "We’re facing good pitching. We’re not going to score 10 runs every game."

Alexei Ramirez tied his career high with four hits and also drove in three runs for Chicago, which has won six in a row at Fenway Park for its longest streak here since the "Go Go" Sox era of 1958-59. Chris Sale came on in the ninth after Boston cut the deficit to 10-7 and struck out Adrian Gonzalez looking on three pitches to earn his second save.

Alfredo Aceves (2-1) lost for the first time in more than two years, allowing eight runs — six earned — on eight hits and three walks while striking out one. He had won 12 consecutive decisions for the Yankees and Red Sox in what had been the longest active streak since CC Sabathia in 2008.

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