CHICAGO -- Will the final road trip before the All-Star break be the one that vaults the Red Sox back into contention?
Through the first four games of a nine-game journey -- all wins -- it is certainly possible.
Behind six scoreless innings from Payton Tolle and early home runs by Andruw Monasterio and Ceddanne Rafaela, the Red Sox rolled to a 8-1 victory over the much-improved White Sox on Tuesday night at Rate Field.
By ripping off nine wins in the last 11 games, Boston (41-48) has pulled to within seven games of .500 for the first time since May 23.
In an auspicious start on the second leg of their three-city trip, here is what mattered most.
1. Road trip HR binge continues
The long ball -- or lack thereof -- has been an issue for the Red Sox this season, at least for players not named Willson Contreras. But in the first four games of this road trip, Boston has banged seven homers, including a pair in each of the last three games.
Monasterio (solo) and Rafaela (two-run) did the honors in this one, both going deep in the third inning to give Boston a 3-0 lead. In all, the Sox have cleared the wall in 19 of their last 24 games, totaling 31 homers in that span.
2. Tolle’s rebound performance
Coming off his worst start of the season, when he gave up six runs on seven hits and three walks while getting just nine outs in a loss to the Nationals last Wednesday, all eyes were on how Tolle would respond in what otherwise has been a strong rookie season. The power lefty answered by mowing through the White Sox, allowing just two hits during his 91-pitch performance. Tolle walked one and struck out six, lowering his ERA to 3.14.
3. Contreras clutches up on defense
While Contreras was added to the American League All-Star team on Tuesday, mainly due to his breakout season offensively, his defense at first base has been stellar all season. When the White Sox had the bases loaded with none out in the seventh, Kyle Teel smoked a grounder that Contreras snared on the dive before firing to second for a key forceout. In an inning that could have gotten away from Boston, the play by Contreras helped minimize the damage to one run.