White Sox' troubles at home continue in loss to Red Sox

Success in baseball usually means winning games at home and playing .500 on the road. But that formula might be challenged in the American League Central, where every team has a losing home record.

For the White Sox, the pattern is even more troubling because it dates to last season, when the Sox were the only team in the league to fare better on the road.

‘‘I’ve been on teams like that,” manager Robin Ventura said. ‘‘Sometimes it’s the personality of the team. I don’t think anyone has an exact science on it. We’re hoping to change that.”

Change seems to be slow in coming for the White Sox, who lost their second consecutive game to the Boston Red Sox 10-3 and had only six hits Friday.

The victory was the fifth in a row for the Red Sox, all on the road, and the White Sox lost their fourth straight overall.

Dating to last season, the Sox are only 6-13 in their last 19 games at U.S. Cellular Field.

“It’s one of the best lineups we’ve seen,” Ventura said. “John [Danks] walks two, and that’s what happens with good lineups. When you put guys on base, it makes it tougher.”

Danks (2-3) had a lead until the sixth, when the Red Sox broke out for five runs. They loaded the bases on two walks and a single before Cody Ross singled home a run and Daniel McDonald cleared the bases with a double. Ex-Cub Marlon Byrd singled home another run to end Danks’ night.

Danks had a 3-2 lead before the sixth thanks to Paul Konerko’s 401st career home run. The drive was off starter Daniel Bard (2-2) and broke a 2-2 tie.

“They hit mistakes, plain and simple,” Danks said. “Walking two guys doesn’t help. That’s bitten me all year. It’s definitely something I have to focus on. I’ve been way too inconsistent.”

Danks fell to 0-6 with a 7.13 ERA in his last seven starts against the AL East.

The Red Sox added two more in the seventh off Nate Jones and another in the ninth when McDonald homered off Dylan Axelrod.

Before the game, the Sox put reliever Jesse Crain on the disabled list because of a strained left oblique and recalled Axelrod from Class AAA Charlotte. Axelrod was summoned in the seventh to replace Jones.

‘‘We’ll move Nate up a little bit and Zach Stewart [to the later innings],” Ventura said before the game. ‘‘Axelrod has been up here [last season], so it’s not like we’re bringing somebody up who can’t pitch here. We have confidence in him.”

Ventura said Addison Reed also could have a greater role in later innings with Crain out.

Axelrod made three starts for the Sox last season, going 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA.

‘‘It’s good to be back,” he said. ‘‘I tried to work hard at Charlotte. I started using a changeup a little more. It adds another dimension and makes my fastball a little better.”

NOTE: With 11 stolen bases in 18 attempts, the White Sox rank sixth in the league. Brent Lillibridge has five without being caught despite having only three hits. Leadoff man Alejandro De Aza will be the player with more opportunities.

‘‘He has to pick his spots – where it is in the game, the counts, the situations,” Ventura said. ‘‘I don’t want him to get thrown out. It has to be the right situation.”

Catchers A.J. Pierzynski and Tyler Flowers also are doing a better job of stopping thefts. Pierzynski has thrown out three of six runners, and Flowers is 2-for-2.