Rays rally in 9th for 3-2 win

[July 22, 2009]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Carlos Pena's sacrifice fly off Bobby Jenks capped a two-run ninth, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2 Tuesday night.

Late rallies are becoming the norm for the Rays, who swept Kansas City with three come-from-behind wins before falling short in Monday's 4-3 loss to Chicago. They loaded the bases in the ninth inning of that game but did not score against Jenks.

This time, trailing 2-1, they came through.

They had the bases loaded with none out against Jenks (2-3) when Pat Burrell walked to force in Jason Bartlett with the tying run. Pena drove in Evan Longoria with a sacrifice fly to right, making it 3-2 and sending the Rays to their fourth win in five games.

J.P. Howell allowed a leadoff single to A.J. Pierzynski in the bottom half, but he struck out Carlos Quentin and Jayson Nix before retiring Gordon Beckham on a grounder to the mound for his 10th save in 15 chances.

The late rally made a winner of Jeff Niemann (9-4) and spoiled an outstanding start by Chicago's Clayton Richard, who allowed just four hits over a career-high eight innings.

Niemann, coming off a seven-hit shutout of Oakland, was impressive again. He scattered eight hits over eight innings but struck out seven and did not walk a batter. Even so, he was looking like a tough-luck loser until the Rays got to Jenks.

Bartlett, who struck out to end Monday's game, led off the ninth with a single to left and Jenks simply unraveled from there, blowing his third save in 25 opportunities. He hit Longoria and Ben Zobrist singled to load the bases before Burrell walked to tie it.

Burrell then got doubled off first on Pena's sacrifice fly, but pinch hitter Carl Crawford walked before Gabe Gross grounded out to end the inning.

Until that rally, the White Sox appeared to be on their way to their 14th win in 20 games.

Richard delivered his best outing after going 1-2 with a 10.80 ERA in his previous five starts and putting his spot in the rotation and on the roster in jeopardy.

The White Sox will have a move to make with John Danks missing Wednesday's start because of a blister on his left index finger. They planned to call up Carlos Torres from Triple-A Charlotte and have him start in Danks' place, meaning someone could be sent down.

NOTES: White Sox 1B Paul Konerko made a nice play in the second when he dived to his right to stab Pat Burrell's line drive. ... Rays manager Joe Maddon said LHP Scott Kazmir's throwing session on Tuesday went well, and he is expected to start Thursday. Kazmir left Saturday's game against Kansas City with a cramp in his left forearm. ... Maddon said he was planning to go with lefties against Danks, so his lineup won't change because of the White Sox's switch.

[Associated Press; By ANDREW SELIGMAN]

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