Recap: Chicago WSox vs. Tampa Bay
Sports Network | August 24, 2008
Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - After A.J. Pierzynski somehow got himself safely out of a rundown, Alexei Ramirez's single to right scored him to give the Chicago White Sox a 6-5, 10-inning win over the Tampa Bay Rays, salvaging the finale of the three-game set.
Pierzynski singled to start the 10th, and headed to second on Carlos Quentin's fly out. Jermaine Dye grounded to Jason Bartlett at short, and Pierzynski was caught between second and third. He kept the rundown going, though, and as he was turning to head back towards third he brushed Rays third baseman Willy Aybar's shoulder and fell to the dirt.
Aybar was called for interference on the play, giving Pierzynski third base. Jim Thome was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out, and Ramirez lined a single to right to keep the Rays from sweeping the White Sox.
Bobby Jenks (3-0) pitched two scoreless innings of relief for the win, while Mark Buehrle took a no-decision after allowing five runs -- two earned -- on six hits in 6 2/3 innings. Thome and Quentin homered for the White Sox, who have won six of eight, and pulled into a momentary tie with the Minnesota Twins atop the AL Central.
Minnesota is playing at the Angels on Sunday.
Jason Hammel (4-4) took the loss, while Andy Sonnanstine gave up four runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 frames. Rocco Baldelli homered and scored for the Rays, who lead the Red Sox by 4 1/2 games in the AL East. Boston edged Toronto on Sunday.
The Rays had a 5-4 lead in the ninth, but a miscue by catcher John Riggans sent the game to extras.
Ken Griffey Jr. doubled to right with one out in the ninth, and was lifted for pinch-runner Brian Anderson. Nick Swisher struck out, but pinch-hitter Paul Konerko floated a soft line drive into shallow left, and Anderson headed home.
Ben Zobrist's throw reached home plate well ahead of Anderson, but Riggans couldn't make the catch, and the ball bounced towards first as Anderson slid in safely with the tying run. The next inning it was Aybar's mistake that gave the White Sox new life, and eventually, the win.
A Swisher error allowed Carlos Pena to reach first with two outs in the first inning, and Baldelli made the White Sox pay for Swisher's miscue when he sent a line drive deep into the stands in left, his second homer since returning to action for the Rays.
Akinori Iwamura's RBI single with two outs in the second made it 3-0 Rays, but the White Sox rallied with two two-run homers in the fourth.
Pierzynski singled to right to lead off the frame, and Quentin followed by belting a pitch out to center, his 36th homer of the season. Dye kept things going with a double to center, then Thome ripped his 27th homer out to right to put the White Sox in front 4-3.
Pena got the Rays started in the sixth with a bunt single, and Baldelli lined a ground-rule double to right. Orlando Cabrera's error allowed Aybar to reach first, and Pena to score, but Buehrle was able to limit the damage there and keep the game tied at 4-4.
In the seventh, Pena came up with another big hit to put the Rays in front. Bartlett walked to lead off the inning, but Iwamura lined out and B.J. Upton fanned to leave it up to Pena. He came through with a double to left, plating Bartlett, and putting the Rays in line for the sweep.
Thome's homer was the 534th of his career, tying Jimmie Foxx for 15th place on the all-time list...The Rays had won five straight over the White Sox...Chicago outhit Tampa Bay 13-8...Ramirez has a 10-game hitting streak.
