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CHICAGO -- Rick Porcello was impressive in his return from the 15-day disabled list and got a little revenge against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night at U.S. Cellular Field. Pitching for the first time since July 29, when the White Sox scored six runs against him in two innings at Fenway Park, Porcello led the Boston Red Sox to a 3-0 win by throwing seven scoreless innings for his first victory since July 8 against the Miami Marlins.
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Porcello pitched like the guy the Red Sox hoped to get after trading for him last winter and then signing him to a four-year, $82.5 million contract extension in the spring.
"Great outing, and I know he's real excited about it," Red Sox interim manager Torey Lovullo said. "The look on his face after the outing ... very encouraging. It just was all working for him, and we're really happy for him."
Despite entering the game with a 5-11 record and a 5.81 ERA, Porcello matched zeros with White Sox ace Chris Sale for seven innings. He struck out five without a walk and scattered five hits to give the Red Sox a glimpse of his buried talents.
Porcello located his two-seam and four-seam fastballs and kept hitters off balance with his changeup.
"The biggest thing tonight was fastball command," Porcello said. "We were able to stay down, sink it to both sides (of the plate) and everything else kind of played off of that."
Sale also worked seven scoreless innings and took a no-decision after striking out seven.
The game stayed 0-0 until the eighth, when Boston first baseman Travis Shaw (1-for-4) launched a two-run homer off White Sox right-hander Nate Jones (1-1). The Red Sox added a run in the eighth on a walk, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly.
Boston left-hander Robbie Ross threw a scoreless eighth to preserve the lead and right-hander Junichi Tazawa closed it out in the ninth for his third save.
Shortstop Xander Bogaerts went 2-for-3 and scored a run for the Red Sox (58-69), who also got a good night from second baseman Josh Rutledge (2-for-3, RBI).
Melky Cabrera went 3-for-4 to lead Chicago (59-66).
If Sale had struck out 14-plus, he would have matched former Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez as the only players in major league history with at least 14 strikeouts in three straight starts.
Sale didn't reach that mark but set a career high for strikeouts in a season (229). His previous best was 226 in 2013 and he still has an estimated seven starts left.
"It's cool, but at the end of the day there's really only one stat that matters and that's wins," Sale said of his strikeout numbers. "We just have to keep fighting. It's nothing in particular. We just have to keep fighting and keep our heads up. We are a good team and keep grinding."
Sale didn't rack up as many strikeouts as he did in his previous two outings (29 combined) but gave the Red Sox problems. He stranded runners in the first, third, fourth and seventh, and left runners in scoring position in the third and fourth to keep the game scoreless.
In the third, he struck out Boston designated hitter Hanley Ramirez to end the inning with the bases loaded.
Porcello nearly matched Sale's pitching line in his first start since being put on the DL retroactive to July 30 with a right triceps strain.
The last time Porcello pitched for the Red Sox, he allowed six runs (five earned) in two innings against the White Sox on July 29 at Fenway Park, taking the loss. This time, he was in complete control.
Porcello didn't allow a hit through the first three innings, stranded runners in the next three innings and then retired the side in order in the seventh.
Shaw's two-out homer to lead off the eighth put Porcello in line to get the win and the Red Sox's bullpen made sure of it.
"He was sharp," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "We finally got in some situations and got some guys in scoring position, but that's as sharp as we've seen him, definitely."
NOTES: Red Sox interim manager Torey Lovullo didn't have 3B Pablo Sandoval and DH David Ortiz in the lineup for the finale of the series. Lovullo said he wanted to give the veterans a day off ahead of a scheduled off day Thursday. ... Lovullo said RHP Clay Buchholz will be re-evaluated Sept. 2 at the end of a six-week shutdown after a platelet-rich plasma into his right elbow on July 22. There is a chance Buchholz might not pitch again this season, but that will be discussed after the shutdown period. ... White Sox manager Robin Ventura didn't start rookie OF Trayce Thompson because the Red Sox had RHP Rick Porcello on the mound. Thompson, who singled, doubled and tripled on Tuesday, is playing mostly against left-handed starters. He's 12-for-23 (.522) with two home runs and five RBIs since being recalled Aug. 3 from Triple-A Charlotte.
