Rays top White Sox 4-2 behind d'Arnaud slam

[July 22, 2019]  Travis d'Arnaud smacked his first career grand slam, Blake Snell pitched six shutout innings and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the visiting Chicago White Sox 4-2 on Sunday to snap a five-game losing streak.

The struggling Tampa Bay offense managed just three hits and was unable to add runs after d'Arnaud's second-inning homer, but Snell and three relievers made the lead stand up.

Snell (6-7) turned in his fourth straight solid outing, allowing three hits and walking two while striking out 10.

Emilio Pagan, who gave up a game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Saturday's loss, struck out the side in the eighth inning and Adam Kolarek worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save.

Chicago starter Dylan Cease (1-2) gave up four runs on three hits in five innings. He totaled four walks and four strikeouts.

Yolmer Sanchez and Adam Engel had two hits each for the White Sox.

The first two White Sox hitters of the game - Leury Garcia and Yoan Moncada -- reached base against Snell. With the runners on second and third with one out after a double-steal, Garcia broke for home on a pitch that got away from d'Arnaud but was tagged out by Snell.

Walks by Yandy Diaz and Joey Wendle sandwiched around Avisail Garcia's single loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning. With the count 1-1, d'Arnaud lifted a slider to left for his 10th home run of the season.

Rays catcher Travis d'Arnaud (37) hits a grand slam during the second inning against the Chicago White Sox at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The 10 home runs from d'Arnaud since June 1 lead the Rays during that stretch.

The White Sox cut the deficit in half in the seventh against reliever Andrew Kittredge. Ryan Goins drew a one-out walk and came around on a triple to center by Sanchez, who then scored on Engel's infield single.

--Field Level Media

[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.