The Rays were hoping that this afternoon’s game would continue their five-game winning streak, and also complete the sweep against the White Sox before they headed to Pittsburgh for their weekend series against Paul Skenes and the Pirates. To get there, they’d have Steven Matz on the mound, squaring off against Jordan Leasure for the White Sox. Matz is off to an impressive start this season, and looking to continue his own winning streak.
In the top of the first, the Rays went down in order. On the White
Sox end, they got a one-out baserunner in Chase Meidroth, but two outs followed to leave the man stranded.
Heading into the second, the Rays got a man on in a one-out walk to Ryan Vilade. That was it for Leasure, who was acting in the Opener role, as the White Sox dipped into their bullpen. Anthony Kay was next in. Vilade stole second, and while the Sox tried to contest the safe call, it was upheld. Unfortunately, two outs then followed, so the hustle didn’t pay off. Chandler Simpson tried to be a one-man defense in the bottom of the inning, first with an incredible catch to get Edgar Quero out, then after Tanner Murray singled, Chandler tried to get another catch off Andrew Benintendi in foul territory but just missed it. Benintendi was out not long after, anyway. Derek Hill then singled, but got tagged out trying to leg it out to second to end the inning.
Nick Fortes singled to start the third inning. Two outs followed, but then Junior Caminero singled, followed by Cedric Mullins getting hit by a pitch. With two men on, Yandy Diaz had an at-bat that would have been a walk just last year, but thanks to two challenges, two ball calls were overturned. Live by the ABS, die by the ABS. The Rays weren’t able to do anything with their two baserunners. Speaking of brutal calls, Miguel Vargas was on strike three, but challenged and it was ruled a ball, and on the next pitch Vargas hit a solo home run. Two outs followed, so the damage was minimal, but one-run games can often come back to haunt.
The Rays got a two-out walk from Jonny DeLuca, followed by back-to-back singles from Nick Fortes and Taylor Walls. The Walls single brought DeLuca home to tie the game up.
Everson Periera got a leadoff single for the White Sox in the bottom of the fourth, but three outs followed to leave him stranded.
In the top of the fifth, Jordan Hicks was the new Sox pitcher out of the bullpen. Cedric Mullins was able to reach safely thanks to a fielding error by Meidroth. We’ll take it. With two outs Jonathan Aranda came on to replace Vilade, and was intentionally walked. Richie Palacios replaced Ben Williamson, and he singled to load the bases. Jake Fraley was the next pinch-hitter, replacing DeLuca. All the lineup shuffling couldn’t quite get the job done, though, and the Rays left them loaded. It was another 1-2-3 inning for the Sox in the home half.
Grant Taylor came on for the Sox in the sixth and got the Rays out in order. Chase Meidroth doubled to start the home half. Pereira took a one-out walk, and Cash wasn’t going to wait to see more, he pulled Matz. Matz’s final line for the game was 5.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR on 74 pitches, another really nice outing for him. He was replaced by Griffin Jax. Quero hit a ground-rule double, scoring a run. A pinch-hitting Colson Montgomery walked, loading the bases. Luckily, the Rays managed to get themselves out of the jam with only the one run scored. This was still something they could come back from.
In the top of the seventh, Cedric Mullins got a one-out walk, followed by a single from Diaz. That sent the Sox back to their bullpen. Sean Newcomb was the new pitcher. Palacios got a two-out single, scoring Mullins to tie up the game.
Kevin Kelly came in next for the Rays and got the Sox out in order.
In the eighth, the Rays were three-up, three-down. That would have been fine if the game was going into extras, but too bad for the Rays Periera hit a solo home run with one out in the home half. Quero then walked, but thankfully a double play ended the inning.
Remember what I said about the whole tie game thing? Well Caminero did, because he hit a leadoff home run against new reliever Seranthony Domínguez in the top of the ninth to re-tie the game.
With one out, Diaz singled, followed by a walk from Jonathan Aranda. A wild pitch advanced the baserunners, then Palacios was hit by a pitch, sending him to first to load the bases, with only one out. Lucas Sims was the next White Sox pitcher in. He gave up a walk to a pinch-hitting Hunter Feduccia, to walk in the go-ahead run for the Rays. Taylor Walls then worked a walk, too, walking in another run. It was a bizarre way to take the lead, but I don’t think anyone is going to complain. Bryan Baker came in for the Rays to hopefully close out the game. Benintendi got a leadoff walk. The Rays were able to get the final three outs of the game, and came away with the win, and the sweep.
Final: Rays 5, White Sox 3
