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 Led by the right-hander's seven dominant innings and an impressive
offensive performance by a young lineup, the Rays beat the Chicago
White Sox 11-3 Tuesday night at U.S. Cellular Field.
"Great win," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. "We needed a win
like that after the last two (games). They've been a little intense
late in ballgames. It was nice to be able to separate a ballgame.
Logan (Forsythe) started it off with a big two-run homer in the
first, and then Archer was just tremendous. He was outstanding."
Archer won for the first time since June 23 against the Toronto Blue
Jays, a span of six starts without a victory. This time, he struck
out seven and yielded just two runs on six hits and one walk.
"I think we just showed a lot as a team, being patient with Sale,"
said Archer, who went 0-4 in his previous six starts despite
allowing two or fewer runs in four of the outings. "He's had some
success against us in the past, so it was nice to get his pitch
count up and force someone else into the game."
Sale struck out nine to retain his lead over Archer in the American
League strikeout category (186-180), but that was the extent of his
success against the Rays this time. He was roughed up for seven runs
in 5 1/3 innings; it was his second consecutive outing allowing
seven runs and taking a loss. It also happened Thursday against the
Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
"It's bad," Sale said. "I really don't know what to say about it
other than just I've been the weak link (the last) couple times out.
I'm not leaving my team a chance to win; I'm not doing my job at
all."
Sale allowed two runs on a home run by Forsythe, Tampa Bay's first
baseman, in the first. He gave up another homer in the fifth to
right fielder Mikie Mahtook and then was charged with four of the
five runs Tampa Bay scored in the sixth that made it an 8-1 game.
It was the third straight loss for the White Sox, who are 1-4 on a
six-game homestand that followed a 7-1 showing on their last road
trip.
"Every time we start a new series, we're looking to win the series
and stuff like that," said Chicago third baseman Tyler Saladino, who
went 2-for-4 with a solo home run. "As far as going back and forth
(winning and losing), it's just baseball. Tomorrow is a brand new
day. We've got a brand new game to play and a whole new matchup, so
we'll get back after it (Wednesday)."
The Rays (54-54) won their third straight, will have a chance to
sweep the three-game series Wednesday.
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Along with the home runs by Forsythe and Mahtook, the Rays got
back-to-back solo homers in the seventh from shortstop Asdrubal
Cabrera and third baseman Richie Shaffer -- whose shot to right
field was the rookie's first hit in the majors.
Right-handed reliever Daniel Webb allowed each of those home runs
and gave up three runs on six hits in 1 1/3 innings.
Eight Tampa Bay players drove in runs, led by Forsythe and center
fielder Kevin Kiermaier (3-for-5), who each had two RBIs. Cabrera
went 2-for-4 with an RBI and three runs, and catcher Rene Rivera
went 3-for-5 with an RBI.
"We were just going to be aggressive," Kiermaier, a left-handed
hitter, said of facing Sale. "We said, 'If he throws 80 to 90
pitches tonight, (that's fine). We're not going to go up here and
let him just carve us up.'"
NOTES: Rays manager Kevin Cash said LHP Drew Smyly will make at
least two more starts during his rehab stint in the minors, with the
next scheduled outing Thursday for Triple-A Durham. Smyly is on the
15-day disabled list recovering from a torn labrum in his left
shoulder. ... Cash said OF Desmond Jennings (bursitis in left knee)
is progressing well during his rehab stint in the minors at Triple-A
Durham. Cash said it will still take some time for Jennings to get
his timing back at the plate and didn't say when he expected to get
him back on the Rays' active roster. ... White Sox manager Robin
Ventura isn't concerned about some recent hiccups on his pitching
staff, which had allowed 42 runs in the first five games of the
homestand. ... Ventura said rookie OF Trayce Thompson is a candidate
to start in the series finale Wednesday. If so, LF Melky Cabrera
might be moved to the DH role. Thompson made his major league debut
Tuesday as a pinch hitter.
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reserved.]
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