BOSTON -- Ceddanne Rafaela had been in a funk lately, which put him in the same company as many Red Sox hitters.

Sometimes one big hit can get a player and a team out of a prolonged slump, and that’s what Boston is hoping after Rafaela bashed a two-run homer to lift his team to a 3-1 victory over the White Sox that snapped a five-game losing streak.

The win put the Red Sox (71-70) back over .500 and avoided them going under .500 for the first time since June 11.

To stay in the hunt, the Red Sox -- who trail the Twins by five games for the third American League Wild Card spot with 21 games left -- are going to have to get hot and stay there for a while.

Nick Pivetta kept the Sox in it early (six innings, five hits, one run, six strikeouts), buying some time for the offense to find any kind of groove.

The well-timed smash by Rafaela snapped a 1-1 tie with one out in the bottom of the seventh.

On a night the Red Sox still were slowed offensively, getting just five hits, it was a walk that perhaps had the biggest impact on the game.

It was authored by Enmanuel Valdez, who fouled off five straight 3-2 pitches against reliever Matt Foster before completing his 12-pitch walk with one out in the seventh.

“[Valdez] keeps putting [together] good at-bats,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “That’s what he does. Yeah, the homer will get the headlines, but the at-bat of the game was that one.”

Rafaela -- who hit a go-ahead homer last Friday in the 10th inning to make Boston’s previous win possible -- was all too happy to be the headliner again.

He unloaded on the first pitch by Foster -- an 84.6 mph slider -- to put the Red Sox ahead for the first time.

“It was huge for the team right there,” Rafaela said. “Tried to put together a good at-bat and get a good pitch to keep the train going.”

Unfortunately for Boston, the train has been sputtering of late. This was just the fourth win for the Red Sox in their last 15 games.

“I think we don't really feel pressure,” Rafaela said. “We just show up the next day and keep going.”

For the Red Sox, that next day is Saturday (7:15 p.m. ET, live on FOX/MLB.TV), and Trevor Story will be back at shortstop, marking his first game since April 5, when he fractured his left shoulder and it seemed he was done for the season.

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During Story’s absence, Rafaela started 70 games at shortstop. He has also started 61 games in center field on the season.

The wiry rookie will now take a primary residency at second base for what should be a highly athletic double-play combo with Story.

“I'm cool with it,” Rafaela said. “I'm helping the team wherever they put me. On my off-day when I didn't play the game against the Mets, I took ground balls at second and turned some double plays and started to get going there.”

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Story’s return should serve as a calming presence for everyone on the Red Sox, including the young core that Rafaela is part of.

“Yeah, I'm really excited to have him back and see the awesome player that he is,” Rafaela said.

Winckowski steps up for save
Two days after throwing 28 pitches in perhaps his worst outing of the season against the Mets, closer Kenley Jansen wasn’t available on Friday night when a save situation presented itself.

Cora turned to Josh Winckowski, who needed just 11 pitches to retire the White Sox in order in the ninth.

It was Winckowski’s fourth career save and first this season.

“I think, obviously in the future, we have to decide who he is. I still believe he can be a lot stronger,” Cora said. “He’s a big dude, big frame. I think when he keeps getting stronger, his velocity is going to tick up and then we have to decide what we’re going to do. His stuff the last two [outings] have been excellent using that sinker/cutter.”

Winckowski was pleased to help his team snap a losing streak.

“Yeah, especially a win like this, a little grindy,” Winckowski said. “[Pivetta] battled out there a ton and put in a really, really good start, and we got some clutch hits when we needed them. It was good for the bullpen to kind of hold it and for us to get a win.”