CHICAGO -- Even at this stage of his career, David Ortiz doesn't exactly feel comfortable hitting off left-handed pitchers.

But when the Boston Red Sox needed him most on Wednesday night, Ortiz came through -- not once, but twice -- and both times off left-handers.

Ortiz homered and drove in three runs, and Clay Buchholz picked up his first win of the season as the Red Sox beat the Chicago White Sox 5-2 Wednesday night at U.S. Cellular Field.

Ortiz's two-run homer in the fifth inning off Chicago starter Carlos Rodon gave Boston (16-11) a 3-2 lead. He followed up with an RBI single in the seventh, punching a hit to the opposite field with the White Sox in a defensive shift.

"That feels good because even when I try to (beat the shift) it doesn't work that way," Ortiz said. "I wasn't trying to pull the ball much and it happens. You feel like the luckiest man on planet earth. (I'm) finally hitting the ball where no one is at."

Josh Rutledge tacked on an RBI single in the eighth inning to complete the scoring.

Buchholz, who entered Wednesday's start with a 6.51 ERA in six appearances, pitched seven strong innings. Buchholz (1-3) limited the White Sox to three hits and two runs while striking out six and walking three.

Buchholz had great command of his curve ball throughout his outing and never a base runner after the second inning. He was also more effective hitting the strike zone with his fastball, all of which added up the kind of quality outing that had been eluding Buchholz for much of the season.

"I've been searching for that for a couple of starts," Buchholz said. "It felt good."

Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his ninth save.

After White Sox starter Carlos Rodon retired the first two hitters in the fifth inning, Xander Bogaerts drew a walk before Ortiz delivered his sixth homer of the year.

It proved to be just the lift the Red Sox and Buchholz needed.

"He does it in such big moments," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "He gives us a lift (and) he gives us the lead with one swing of the bat."

Rodon (1-4) surrendered three runs on six hits over six innings. He also walked three and struck out six.

Jose Abreu gave the White Sox a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a two-run homer. Abreu, who has driven in runs in five consecutive games, drilled a Buchholz 1-0 pitch into the left-field seats after Jimmy Rollins reached on a single.

Boston got to within 2-1 in the third inning on Bogaerts' two-out RBI single that scored Christian Vazquez. Vazquez and Jackie Bradley Jr. put together back-to-back singles and advanced on a Rodon wild pitch.

The Red Sox loaded the bases in the fourth inning with only one out but Rodon pitched out of the jam, getting Vazquez to ground into an inning-ended double play that allowed the White Sox to cling to the one-run lead.

But Ortiz changed all of that in the fifth, leaving Buchholz and the Red Sox bullpen to keep the White Sox off balance the rest of the way.

Chicago, which had won three straight, remained hitless for the final seven innings. Buchholz had a lot to do with it.

"I think after (the first inning), breaking ball-wise he had some good stuff," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "(He was) just taking a little off, his cutter was sharp, hitting the outside corner. At-bat wise, it just didn't look good."

NOTES: Red Sox 1B Hanley Ramirez missed Wednesday's game with flu-like symptoms. ... LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (right patella subluxation) will make his next scheduled start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday. Manager John Farrell said Rodriguez will throw 90-100 pitches and that it's too early to tell if Rodriguez would return to the Red Sox after Sunday's start. ... Farrell said he is more comfortable using right-handed reliever Carson Smith on back-to-back days than having Smith work multiple innings. Smith, who sustained a right flexor strain in spring training, returned from the disabled list on Tuesday and pitched one inning. ... White Sox OF Avisail Garcia (strained hamstring) missed his fourth straight game. Manager Robin Ventura said Garcia tested the hamstring on Wednesday, but he isn't ready to return. "(There's) still something there, so you're a little nervous using him, having him sprint and try to beat something out," Ventura said.