Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Jim Thome hit a two-run homer and Joe Crede added a run batted in as Chicago shut down Boston, 4-2, in the finale of a three-game set from Fenway Park.

Paul Konerko also drove in a run for the White Sox, who salvaged a game in the series and halted a three-game losing streak. Chicago remained a half-game ahead of Minnesota for first place in the AL Central after Minnesota routed Oakland later Sunday.

Gavin Floyd (15-6) went 6 2/3 innings for the win, scattering seven hits and one run with five strikeouts and two walks. Bobby Jenks allowed a run in the ninth but notched his 27th save.

Jacoby Ellsbury and Jed Lowrie knocked in a run each for the Red Sox, who dropped their second game in the last six. Coupled with Tampa Bay's win over Baltimore, Boston dropped to 5 1/2 games behind the first-place Rays in the AL East.

Tim Wakefield (8-9) was charged with six hits and three runs over six innings, losing for the first time in four starts.

With a two-run lead late, the White Sox added insurance in the ninth inning off Justin Masterson.

After Ken Griffey Jr. grounded into a double play, Alexei Ramirez bunted for a base hit. He scored just ahead of a relay throw when Crede laced a double down the left-field line for a 4-1 lead.

Jenks walked Alex Cora to start the home ninth and allowed a one-out single to Ellsbury. Both runners moved up on defensive indifference, and Lowrie's groundout plated Cora. David Ortiz drew a walk and Coco Crisp was insterted as a pinch-runner to put runners at first and third. Crisp stole second with Dustin Pedroia up but the diminutive second baseman lifted a lazy fly to left for the final out.

"You try to get, at worst the tying run to the plate," said Boston manager Terry Francona of the final sequence. "We end up getting not only the go-ahead run with Petey [Pedroia] but we got Coco in scoring position to boot. Jenks is good anyway; it's a tough time of day, the shadows start coming, it makes it hard to see."

Chicago got on the board in the first on Thome's two-run line-drive homer just inside the foul pole in right. The blast was his 536th career home run, moving him into a tie with Mickey Mantle for 14th on the all-time list.

"To tie Mickey Mantle you're just speechless, what do you say?" said Thome. "We talk about it all the time the history of the game and what those guys have done and to be a part of that is really hard to talk about because when you throw Mickey Mantle's name around that is one of the greatest home run hitters, for sure."

Boston had the bases loaded in the bottom half but were unable to score when Jason Bay lined out to third. The Red Sox did finally counter in the fourth on an RBI single from Ellsbury.

The White Sox moved ahead 3-1 in the sixth as Thome smacked a two-out ground- rule double and scored when Konerko followed with a two-bagger.