Red Sox 5, White Sox 1: Adrian Gonzalez spoiled Kevin Youkilis’ return to Fenway Park with a three-run homer in the eighth inning that lifted host Boston past Chicago.

Carl Crawford returned to the lineup with a hit and two runs scored and Aaron Cook pitched seven strong innings for the Red Sox, who have won three of four since the All-Star break but may have lost David Ortiz for a period of time. The All-Star slugger strained an Achilles rounding second base on Gonzalez's homer and is scheduled to have an MRI on Tuesday.

Knotted at 1-1, Crawford and Ortiz drew back-to-back walks against left-hander Leyson Septimo (0-1) leading off the eighth. Gonzalez, who has been questioned for his lack of power this season, got a 2-1 fastball and sent it the opposite way into the Green Monster seats in left for his seventh blast and first since June 24.

The Red Sox tacked on another run on Mike Aviles’ RBI single.

Batting second for the White Sox, Youkilis got a huge ovation from the Fenway Park fans when he came up in the first. The former Boston infielder, who was traded to Chicago on June 24, then sent a 2-2 pitch up the middle for a single.

Youkilis used some aggressive base running to score all the way from first on a groundout. With the Boston infield in a shift for Adam Dunn, Youkilis did not stop around second on the routine grounder, racing toward third. The throw by Gonzalez to third got away from Will Middlebrooks, allowing Youkilis to score.

The Red Sox got that run back in the bottom half of the first when Crawford, making his season debut after elbow and wrist injuries, singled, moved to third on Ortiz’s single and came home when Gonzalez lined a single to right.

Dylan Axelrod started for Chicago and ended up charged with one run on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings while striking out eight.

Cook was just as sharp for Boston, surrendering only the unearned run in the first and five hits. Vicente Padilla (3-0) pitched the eighth to earn the win in relief.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Youkilis added a pair of doubles to finish 3-for-4. … Ortiz extended his hitting streak to 11 games with the single in the first. … White Sox SS Alexei Ramirez had his nine-game hitting streak come to an end. … The Red Sox expect to have 2B Dustin Pedroia (thumb) off the disabled list when he is eligible Thursday. … White Sox RHP Gavin Floyd (elbow) will not pitch in the four-game series and could be placed on the disabled list. … Boston management asked senior advisor Bill James to refrain from further public statement regarding former Penn State coach Joe Paterno. James had made news over the weekend by defending the embattled coach.