White Sox left wanting at home

CHICAGO - Wade Miller ended his long victory drought with his strongest outing since joining the Boston Red Sox.

"I haven't won for quite a while, so it's a real good boost for my morale," Miller said last night after he pitched seven shutout innings to beat the White Sox 3-0 for his first win since May 30.

"It was about time, I've been waiting for this one for a long time," he added.

Manny Ramirez homered in the first and Jason Varitek connected in the ninth for the Red Sox. Mike Myers, Mike Timlin and Curt Schilling completed the seven-hit shutout.

Miller (3-4), bothered by shoulder problems a year ago in Houston and earlier this season with the Red Sox, matched his longest outing of the season.

He foiled White Sox rallies with timely pitches and allowed just five hits. He walked four and struck out four.

"He fights to find what he wants to do and what he's able to do. He's a bulldog out on that mound. As the game went on, his stuff definitely got better," Varitek said.

Ramirez hit a two-run homer to right with two outs in the first off Orlando Hernandez after a walk to David Ortiz. It was Ramirez's 27th of the season - he won Thursday's series opener with a ninth-inning solo shot - and it increased his major league-leading RBI total to 89.

Varitek added a solo drive in the ninth off Damaso Marte.

Hernandez (7-3), in his second start since coming off the disabled list for a second time after being bothered by a sore shoulder, allowed four hits and two runs in 6 2-3 innings. He has not won since June 8.

"Everybody in Boston's lineup is a good hitter. Their third and fourth guys are unbelievable," Hernandez said.

The White Sox loaded the bases on a single by Joe Crede and two walks in the third with one out before Miller struck out Carl Everett and retired Paul Konerko on a fly to right to end the threat.

[Last modified July 24, 2005, 00:50:06]