CHICAGO - A week ago Saturday, the Red Sox had hit bottom, blowing a nine-run lead while dropping their fifth in a row.
The turnaround, though, has come quickly.
The Red Sox won their sixth straight game Saturday night, shutting out the Chicago White Sox, 1-0, behind Jon Lester, who earned his first of the season with seven shutout innings.
The victory enabled the Red Sox to reach the .500 mark with a 10-10 record. By contrast, the Red Sox didn't get to .500 last year until May 15.
Lester allowed just five hits while walking one and striking out seven. Of the five hits against him, two didn't leave the infield.
In his final inning of work, the White Sox had the potential tying run on third, but Lester got Gordon Beckham to hit into an inning-ending forceout.
The Red Sox' only run came in the fourth inning when Ryan Sweeney led off with his major league-leading 11th double and rode home one out later on a single to right-center by Adrian Gonzalez.
Boston Red Sox
It was the sixth time in the last seven games that Gonzalez has driven in at least one run.
Franklin Morales got the first two outs in the eighth. After walking Paul Konerko, Vicente Padilla got Alex Rios on a groundout to second.
Alfredo Aceves worked the ninth for his fifth save.