Chicago survives Tampa Bay’s 11-hit attack by turning early errors into a commanding road win
The Tampa Bay Rays collected more hits than the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, but two first-inning errors and a clutch performance from Anthony Kay proved decisive as Chicago escaped Tropicana Field with a 9-1 victory.
Early miscues put Rays behind before offense arrives
Tampa Bay’s afternoon unraveled before it had a chance to develop. Sam Antonacci reached on a fielding error by second baseman Ryan Vilade, giving Chicago an early baserunner against Griffin Jax.
Jax recovered quickly and retired the next two hitters, but Colson Montgomery’s double into right field extended the inning and put runners in scoring position. Andrew Benintendi then reached when Jax’s throw sailed away, allowing Antonacci to score the opening run.
A wild pitch moments later brought Montgomery home, giving Chicago a 2-0 advantage. Neither run was earned, but the damage was already done.
Kay keeps Tampa Bay stranded
The Rays generated plenty of traffic against Kay, but the left-hander consistently found a way to finish innings. Tampa Bay finished the game with 11 hits, yet could not turn that production into a meaningful comeback.
The biggest escape came in the fourth inning when the Rays loaded the bases with one out. Kay responded by retiring Jonny DeLuca on an infield pop-up before getting Ben Williamson to ground out, ending the threat.
Kay continued working through Tampa Bay’s lineup and completed 6⅓ scoreless innings, allowing seven hits while earning his eighth victory of the season.
Benintendi and Pereira provide the separation
Chicago added to its advantage in the fourth inning when Benintendi launched a solo home run into right-center field, his 12th of the season, extending the lead to 3-0.
The White Sox then broke the game open against Tampa Bay’s bullpen in the sixth. Tristan Peters reached base and stole second before Chase Meidroth walked, setting up Pereira’s two-run double into left field.
Pereira’s hit pushed Chicago’s lead to 5-0 and gave the White Sox their first significant offensive cushion. The Rays continued to create chances, but Chicago’s pitching staff repeatedly stranded runners and prevented any momentum from building.
Ninth-inning power finishes the job
Chicago’s final offensive surge came in the ninth inning. Meidroth started the inning with a single before Pereira delivered again, this time sending a two-run homer to center field for his fourth home run of the season.
After a Murakami double and a pinch-running appearance from Luisangel Acuña, Miguel Vargas capped the scoring with a two-run blast into left-center field. Pereira finished the day with four RBIs, while Chicago’s three home runs turned a close pitching battle into a comfortable victory.
The Rays finally got on the board in the bottom of the ninth when Williamson hit a solo homer off Duncan Davitt, but the late offense came far too late.
Chicago’s victory was not built on overwhelming Tampa Bay at the plate. The Rays actually outhit the White Sox 11-9. The difference came from execution: Chicago punished early mistakes, received a shutdown performance from Kay, and delivered the big swings Tampa Bay could not find. By the final out, the White Sox had turned two errors into a 9-1 win while leaving the Rays to wonder how 11 hits produced only one run.
