The Chicago White Sox (59-52) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (65-46) 9-1 on Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field. With the loss, the Rays dropped the three-game series to Chicago and finished the nine-game homestand with a record of 6-3.
Griffin Jax (6-9, 3.63) committed a costly error that allowed a run to score in the first inning, then allowed a second run to score on a wild pitch. Andrew Benintendi hit a solo homer off him in the fourth inning to make it 3-0 - Jax left the game after five innings in which he allowed three runs, just one of them earned, on four hits while striking out eight and walking none.
Everson Pereira hit a two-run double in the sixth inning to lift the White Sox to a 5-0 lead and start to create some separation. Then in the ninth inning, the White Sox added four more runs to turn the game into a blowout. Ben Williamson hit a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth inning for the Rays, which would be the only offense of the night for Tampa Bay in the 9-1 loss.
The Rays will now travel west for a nine-game road trip that begins against the Colorado Rockies on Monday. Ian Seymour (7-3, 4.37) is scheduled to start for the Rays on Monday and face Michael Lorenzen (3-9, 6.54) for the Rockies. First pitch between the Rays and Rockies is scheduled for 8:40 PM on Monday night - pregame coverage begins with Ronnie Lane hosting Inside Pitch at 7:30 PM on 95.7 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES