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Rays 5, White Sox 0 (Game #18) [8-10]
Complete domination! Andy Sonnanstine was on fire tonight, registering his first career complete game, allowing only three hits (including a bunt hit) with four strikeouts and one walk for his first shutout in his 26th career start. Runners didn't get past second base and after two of the hits, Sonnanstine got inning-ending double play grounders. Sonnanstine threw 77 of 106 pitches for strikes. After struggling in his previous start Monday, allowing seven runs and nine hits over three-plus innings against the New York Yankees, Sonnanstine was utter brilliant in a game that took 2 hours, 2 minutes, which is the fastest ever at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay stopped a six-game losing skid against Chicago. Mark Buehrle gave up five runs and 12 hits in seven innings for the White Sox. The left-hander, who had five strikeouts and two walks, dropped to 6-2 overall against the Rays. With two outs in the second inning, after hitting Jonny Gomes with a pitch, he gave up four consecutive singles after Gomes stole second. A botched second-inning rundown cost the White Sox three runs. Gomes was caught leaning toward second on Buehrle’s pick-off throw to first, but Chicago failed to get him out and Gomes took second. By the way, it was the second straight game Chicago failed to execute a rundown. Eric Hinske singled to deep center, scoring Gomes. Shawn Riggans singled to left and Jason Bartlett singled to right, scoring Hinske. And Aki Iwamura had the last single (to deep right), scoring Riggans. Carl Crawford ended the inning with a strikeout. The Rays added a run in the fourth. Gomes tripled to deep center and then Riggans hit a sacrifice fly to deep center, scoring him. And then finally in the seventh inning, Tampa Bay scored the final run with a B.J. Upton RBI double to deep left, scoring Crawford from first base. Who does that? Crawford, that's who. Upton, who was also smoking hot tonight, had three hits, which included two singles, increased his batting average to .343. He's also batting .457 with two home runs, two doubles and 10 RBIs in his last nine games. Upton is also batting .600 with four RBIs in eight career games against the White Sox. Sunday’s scheduled starter is Edwin Jackson. He will face John Danks (1-1, 4.32), who has only faced the Rays once, a 5-4 win at Tropicana Field last June 25th, when he gave up four runs in five innings. Chicago’s top two hitters, right fielder Jermaine Dye (.339) and catcher A.J. Pierzynski (.327), each rested on Saturday, but are expected to be back. I like the Rays' chances tomorrow afternoon and expect Jackson to rebound after coming off a poor outing, giving up five runs, four hits and four walks in five innings in a 5-3 loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday. Go, Jackson, go! This worked last time I posted these words and I'll keep doing it if he continues to win. Superstitious? Nope. Well, maybe.
Complete domination! Andy Sonnanstine was on fire tonight, registering his first career complete game, allowing only three hits (including a bunt hit) with four strikeouts and one walk for his first shutout in his 26th career start. Runners didn't get past second base and after two of the hits, Sonnanstine got inning-ending double play grounders. Sonnanstine threw 77 of 106 pitches for strikes. After struggling in his previous start Monday, allowing seven runs and nine hits over three-plus innings against the New York Yankees, Sonnanstine was utter brilliant in a game that took 2 hours, 2 minutes, which is the fastest ever at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay stopped a six-game losing skid against Chicago. Mark Buehrle gave up five runs and 12 hits in seven innings for the White Sox. The left-hander, who had five strikeouts and two walks, dropped to 6-2 overall against the Rays. With two outs in the second inning, after hitting Jonny Gomes with a pitch, he gave up four consecutive singles after Gomes stole second. A botched second-inning rundown cost the White Sox three runs. Gomes was caught leaning toward second on Buehrle’s pick-off throw to first, but Chicago failed to get him out and Gomes took second. By the way, it was the second straight game Chicago failed to execute a rundown. Eric Hinske singled to deep center, scoring Gomes. Shawn Riggans singled to left and Jason Bartlett singled to right, scoring Hinske. And Aki Iwamura had the last single (to deep right), scoring Riggans. Carl Crawford ended the inning with a strikeout. The Rays added a run in the fourth. Gomes tripled to deep center and then Riggans hit a sacrifice fly to deep center, scoring him. And then finally in the seventh inning, Tampa Bay scored the final run with a B.J. Upton RBI double to deep left, scoring Crawford from first base. Who does that? Crawford, that's who. Upton, who was also smoking hot tonight, had three hits, which included two singles, increased his batting average to .343. He's also batting .457 with two home runs, two doubles and 10 RBIs in his last nine games. Upton is also batting .600 with four RBIs in eight career games against the White Sox. Sunday’s scheduled starter is Edwin Jackson. He will face John Danks (1-1, 4.32), who has only faced the Rays once, a 5-4 win at Tropicana Field last June 25th, when he gave up four runs in five innings. Chicago’s top two hitters, right fielder Jermaine Dye (.339) and catcher A.J. Pierzynski (.327), each rested on Saturday, but are expected to be back. I like the Rays' chances tomorrow afternoon and expect Jackson to rebound after coming off a poor outing, giving up five runs, four hits and four walks in five innings in a 5-3 loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday. Go, Jackson, go! This worked last time I posted these words and I'll keep doing it if he continues to win. Superstitious? Nope. Well, maybe.
