MLB: Boston 3, Chicago White Sox 2

BOSTON, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- David Ortiz hit a one-out homer in the ninth inning Wednesday and Boston ran its winning streak to three games with a 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

The Red Sox increased their American League wild-card lead to 2 ½ games over Texas and to four games over Tampa Bay.

Ortiz also hit a homer in the second, making this his first multi-home run game of the season.

Tony Pena (6-5), in first his first inning of work, struck out Kevin Youkilis to open the ninth. Ortiz then launched a long drive that sailed comfortably inside the right field foul pole.

That made a winner out of Daniel Bard (1-1), who picked up his first career win with 1 1/3 innings of relief.

Alex Gonzales hit a sixth-inning home run for Boston, winner of seven of its last nine games.

Tim Wakefield, who was activated from the disabled list prior to the game, made his first start since July 8. He allowed a run on six hits in seven innings.

Chicago lost for the fifth time in six games, but stayed 4 ½ back of division-leading Detroit in the American League Central.