CHICAGO, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Paul Konerko broke a tie with a fourth-inning grand slam homer Thursday, propelling the Chicago White Sox to an 8-2 victory over Boston.
Chicago won for the seventh time in eight games and gave John Danks a triumph in his final start of the season. Danks (15-11) gave up five hits and two runs in six innings. The 15 wins are the most he has recorded in his four-year career.
The score was knotted at 2-2 when Konerko delivered his 39th homer of the season. Dayan Viciedo added a two-run shot in the fifth to finish the scoring.
Jon Lester (19-9) missed out on a chance for a 20-win season and left the game after four innings. He gave up eight runs on nine hits to take the loss. Lester had won his previous six starts.
Although Boston will miss the playoffs, the Red Sox will play a major role in determining the American League East champion. They will host the New York Yankees in the final three games of the season, a series that will begin with the Yankees tied with Tampa Bay for the division lead.
