Pedroia inspires Boston to win over Chicago

BOSTON (Reuters) - The Boston Red Sox eased to an 8-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park on Saturday, the home team aided by a second consecutive 4-for-4 batting effort from in-form second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

Pedroia, who was last season's American League Rookie of the Year, became the first Red Sox player to achieve the feat since Wade Boggs in 1989.

"Sometimes you go through times in the year where you're not very good, and then you go through times where you are good," Pedroia told reporters.

"The last couple of days I got on base every time. It's just one of those things."

Pedroia led a Boston (79-56) offense that provided first-time starter Michael Bowden plenty of support.

The 21-year-old pitcher allowed two runs over five solid innings just one day after the Red Sox placed key right-hander Josh Beckett on the 15-day disabled list because of an injured throwing elbow.

"I don't care what your age is, getting runs is good," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "But he did a good job after we got the runs."

Jason Bay started off the scoring with a two-run double in the first inning, where the Red Sox put up three runs.

They added two more in the second, getting to Chicago starter Mark Buehrle, who allowed 11 hits and seven runs in just 4 2/3 innings.

Jacoby Ellsbury and Mark Kotsay both had three hits apiece for Boston, which recorded 15 hits in total.

Second baseman Alexei Ramirez was 2-for-4 with an RBI double for the White Sox (76-59), who have lost three straight and remain locked in a tight race with the Minnesota Twins for the American League Central division.

(Reporting by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by John O'Brien)