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 Limited by red-hot White Sox pitcher Chris Sale to one hit in the
first six innings, the Rays got a two-run home run from shortstop
Asdrubal Cabrera in the seventh inning, finishing a three-game sweep
with a 2-1 win at Tropicana Field.
"That's a big win," said Rays manager Kevin Cash, whose last eight
wins have all been by two runs or less. "Against Chris Sale,
probably not an ideal matchup, but (starter Nathan Karns) gave us a
tremendous start. He was outstanding ... Cabby, huge knock, and
that's basically the ballgame."
The Rays (35-29) got three scoreless innings of relief, with Kevin
Jepsen getting a 1-2-3 ninth on seven pitches for his fifth save of
the season. Chicago (28-33) took their its road sweep of the season,
going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position against Karns, who
struck out eight.
"I have to give it to my defense, which played really well behind
me," said Karns, who has allowed two runs or less in nine of his 13
starts this season. "We knew we had our work cut out for us, and we
tried to keep it close and eventually we were able to get the big
knock by Cabby."
Cabrera has been sterling in the field but is hitting just .206, so
Sunday was a chance for him to come through with a bat to match his
glove.
"Nothing better than when you do something to help the team win,"
Cabrera said. "As soon as I hit it, I knew it was out."
Sale struck out 12 batters -- his fourth straight start doing so,
making him the first pitcher to do that since Pedro Martinez in 2001
and just the third pitcher since 1914, along with Randy Johnson.
"We were pretty much where we wanted to be, and then one stupid
mistake, walked a guy and then leave a fastball right down the
middle and lose the game," Sale said. "There is really nothing more
than that. Tonight was my night to pick (his teammates) up, and I
didn't, plain and simple."
Sunday marked the eighth time the Rays won this year despite scoring
two runs or less, the most such wins in the majors. Sale lost a game
in which he gave up just two runs, this after allowing just one run
combined in his three previous starts, where he had a 0.40 ERA.
"It almost seems like we have to be perfect a lot of the time when
we're not scoring runs," said Mark Parent, filling in as White Sox
manager this weekend. "He did a tremendous job. We just need to pick
it up offensively
Tampa Bay's bullpen got the job done, with C.J. Riefenhauser, Steve
Geltz an Jepsen providing a scoreless inning of relief each.
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The Rays went into the day in a virtual tie with the New York
Yankees for first place in the American League East, and they will
keep at least that as they welcome in the Washington Nationals for a
four-game split series, with the first two at Tropicana Field
starting on Monday.
Sale continued his recent dominance early in the game, holding the
Rays to one hit in the first five innings with nine strikeouts.
Outfielder Brandon Guyer singled to open the game, and Sale was in
control at that point.
Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a double by third
baseman Gordon Beckham and an RBI single by second baseman Carlos
Sanchez, who entered the game hitting just .146 on the season.
Twice, the Rays had two runners on for third baseman Evan Longoria
with less than two outs, and both times Sale struck him out, getting
out of jams in the first and third innings.
Karns did his best to match Sale, holding the White Sox to one run
in the first six innings despite allowing seven hits. Karns faced
runners in scoring position in all six innings but only allowed one
to score.
NOTES: With the Rays in a virtual tie for first place in the AL East
with the Yankees, the division's top four teams are all within two
games. That hasn't happened this late in the season since 1996, when
the NL Central was similarly log-jammed at the top. ... Facing
Chicago LHP Chris Sale is no easy task, but the Rays came in with
seven straight wins against left-handed starters. Overall, they are
12-8 against lefties in 2015. ... Rays OF Steven Souza leads the
team in home runs and stolen bases -- no rookie has done that over a
full season since the Phillies' Scott Rolen in 1997, and before
that, Boston's Jim Rice in 1975. ... Both teams move to four-game
split series against NL opponents, with the Rays hosting the
Nationals for two, then going to Washington, and the White Sox going
to Pittsburgh for two, then hosting the Pirates.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
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