Chicago White Sox extend their winning streak to 6 games by sweeping the Boston Red Sox with a 3-2 victory

BOSTON — The Chicago White Sox had decisions to make.

They led the Boston Red Sox by a run in the ninth inning Sunday. Closer Liam Hendriks and fellow relievers Kendall Graveman and Aaron Bummer were unavailable.

The White Sox called on José Ruiz and rookie Bennett Sousa, and both got big outs to preserve a 3-2 victory in front of 28,602 at Fenway Park.

“Luckily in college (at Virginia) I was a closer for my junior and senior year, so I had a little bit of experience doing it,” Sousa said. “Even through the minor leagues I had a few saves. So I’m used to being at that end of the bullpen and understanding that the hardest three outs are the last three outs.

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“But the key is not to let the pressure get too big, even though it’s Fenway Park, first time and that tying run is on second base. Just execute pitches and stay within yourself and hopefully good things happen.”

Dallas Keuchel pitched six strong innings and relievers Ryan Burr, Matt Foster, Ruiz and Sousa came through as the White Sox completed a three-game sweep and extended their winning streak to six.

It was Sousa’s first big-league save.

“He’s earned that,” manager Tony La Russa said. “You’ve got confidence in him, keep pitching him. We can’t win without the depth.”

Hendriks earned a save in the first five games of the winning streak, including victories Friday and Saturday at Fenway Park. The White Sox rested him Sunday.

Graveman is healthy, La Russa said, noting that the right-hander warmed up Saturday and the White Sox held off on going in his direction Sunday.

La Russa said Bummer felt a “tug” on the back of his right knee during his last appearance Friday and is headed to the injured list, a move that will accompany Joe Kelly’s arrival after a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte.

Burr, Foster, Ruiz and Sousa combined for five strikeouts and one hit in three innings.

“Those guys have been doing it since Day 1, really,” La Russa said. “Sousa’s done a really good job, Foster has saved us and Ruiz. Burr, the first guy that had to do it in the seventh, that’s big.

“Nothing bigger than Dallas pitching six innings, two runs. That’s the biggest. I saw good movement and good command.”

Keuchel (2-3) allowed two runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and one walk in six innings, his longest outing of the season.

“This is a great step forward,” he said. “Winds were a little tricky at first, just trying to corral the strike zone and what it was going to do on the game mound. The bullpen mound had a different cross path with the wind than it did on the game mound.

“Fortunate to get some early contact and really calm down that first inning with 20-plus pitches. Definitely a step in the right direction.”

The White Sox gave him a lead with three runs in the third. Leury García drove in one with an infield single and José Abreu drove in two with a double. Abreu had four hits and four RBIs in the series.

“He’s been making that kind of contact (this season),” La Russa said. “He’s hitting the ball hard for longer than the production shows.”

The Red Sox scored twice in the sixth to make it 3-2. Burr pitched a perfect seventh and Foster struck out the 2-3-4 hitters in the eighth.

J.D. Martinez doubled against Ruiz to start the ninth. Christian Vázquez popped out to second and Ruiz struck out Alex Verdugo.

The chess match went to another level. With the left-handed-hitting Jackie Bradley Jr. due up, the White Sox called on the left-handed Sousa.

“I’d rather have the left-hander against Bradley,” La Russa said. “He’s gotten some big hits against our right-handers in the series.”

The Red Sox countered by bringing the right-handed-hitting Kevin Plawecki off the bench to face Sousa.

“I saw the lefties were at the bottom of the order there,” Sousa said, “and I kind of figured that would be a spot for me to come in and get the job done. (Ruiz) got the first two outs, which was great. And all I had to do was get one.”

Sousa got Plawecki to fly out to center fielder Luis Robert for the final out. With the win, the White Sox (14-13) are over .500 for the first time since April 20, when they were 6-5.

“As soon as it was in the air, I knew it would be an out because the wind was crazy today,” Sousa said. “That was really exciting. I gave (catcher) Reese (McGuire) a big hug.

“It was awesome. One out. Go in there, get the job done and end with a sweep.”