By SeanMcAdam
CSNNE.com
BOSTON -- It got ugly early for the Red Sox Tuesday, and even after a late-inning rally, it remained that way at the end.
After spotting the Chicago White Sox a 10-1 lead, the Red Sox scored six unaswered runs in the eighth and ninth innings, but fell short in a 10-7 defeat.
The loss was Boston's third in a row.
Starter Alfredo Aceves was tagged for four runs in the second inning and solo runs in the third and fourth innings. When the White Sox got two more off him in the sixth, the night was over for Aceves who allowed eight runs -- six of them earned. Until Tuesday night, Aceves had allowed eight runs all season in 28 13 innings.
A run-scoring single by Drew Sutton and a three-run homer by David Ortiz made it respectable for the Sox in the eighth and when they added two more in the ninth on a sacrifice fly from Josh Reddick and a Sutton double, the Sox had the potential game-tying run on deck.
But Chris Sale fanned Adrian Gonzalez to end the threat.
The game featured the return of Bobby Jenks, who was taken off the DL earlier in the day. He pitched a scoreless eighth against his former team.
STAR OF THE GAME: Alexi Ramirez
Ramirez paced the White Sox' 15-hit attack with his 7th career four-hit game and second this season.
After popping out to second in his first plate appearance, he singled in the second, fourth, sixth and eighth.
The night capped a strong month for Ramirez, who led all White Sox hitters with 36 hits.
HONORABLE MENTION: Philip Humber
Humber limited the Red Sox to a single run over the first six innings before tiring some in the seventh.
By then, his teammates had provided him with plenty of run support and Humber, a former Mets prospect, was on his way to his fourth victory of the season.
GOAT OF THE GAME: Alfredo Aceves
Aceves had been terrific in two previous spot starts, allowing just two runs over 11 innings, but the streak came an abrupt end Tuesday night.
He didn't get much help from his defense in the second, but gave up eight hits in five-plus innings.
TURNING POINT: Aceves was an out away from getting out the second inning with just two runs scored by the White Sox before Alexi Ramirez singled up the middle, doubling the White Sox' run total for the inning and setting the stage for the rout.
BY THE NUMBERS: Jason Varitek has hit safely in each of his last eight games with at least one at-bat, batting .379 (11-for-29) in that span. Varitek has lifted his average to .235 for the season.
QUOTE OF NOTE: "It's one of those games where you feel really good and things don't happen.'' -- Alfredo Aceves on his outing.
Sean McAdam can be reached at smcadam@comcastsportsnet.com.Follow Sean on Twitter at http:twitter.comsean_mcadam