James Shields threw six scoreless innings, Tim Anderson and Daniel Palka homered and the Chicago White Sox beat the major league-leading Boston Red Sox 8-0 on Sunday to split their four-game series.

 

Anderson had three hits - including two doubles - for the White Sox, who have won seven of their last 10 games.

 

Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez had two hits apiece for Boston, which had won four of its last five.

 

The Red Sox have the majors' best record at 94-44 and maintained a 7½ -game lead in the AL East over the New York Yankees, who lost to Detroit.

 

Shields (6-15) struck out six and allowed four hits and two walks. He has thrown at least six innings in 21 of his last 25 starts. Three relievers completed the five-hitter.

 

Five Red Sox pitchers combined to strike out 12 but gave up 15 hits.

 

Brian Johnson (4-4) allowed four runs and seven hits while recording four outs in his shortest start of the season. With Chris Sale and David Price out with injuries, the Red Sox have just two quality starts in their last 17 games. Their starting pitchers combined to allow 12 earned runs in 14 innings in the four-game series.

 

Anderson hit his 18th home run this season on the first pitch with one out in the first inning. Kevan Smith's single added another run.

 

Matt Davidson's two-run double chased Johnson in the second.

 

The White Sox extended their lead to 5-0 on Adam Engel's single off Bobby Poyner in the third inning.

 

Palka smacked his 20th home run in the fourth off William Cuevas - four pitches after he hit a long drive just foul and completed a jog around the bases before heading back to the plate.

 

Anderson doubled to lead off the sixth and scored on a fielder's choice.