Rays turn back White Sox, avoid sweep
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[April 18, 2022]
The Tampa Bay Rays played Sunday like
the team that won 100 games and the American League East title in
2021. And that was more than enough to give the Rays a 9-3 victory
over the host Chicago White Sox.
The Rays, who had 12 hits, scored four runs in the first inning and
four in the eighth after scoring just four combined runs in the
previous two games. Kevin Kiermaier and Francisco Mejía drove in two
runs apiece to lead Tampa Bay on Sunday.
The Rays also got a strong performance with their by-committee
pitching, which gave up only three hits. That allowed the Rays, who
had lost five of their previous six games, to avoid a three-game
sweep by the White Sox.
Tampa Bay, which has been bothered by early injuries to its pitching
staff, got a strong performance out of J.P. Feyereisen. He made the
first start of his career and pitched two perfect innings. Four
relievers held the White Sox to three runs, including a ninth-inning
solo home run by Gavin Sheets.
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Chris Mazza (1-0), who replaced Feyereisen in the third, got the
win.
The Rays got to Chicago starter Vince Velasquez (0-1) early as Tampa
Bay's two young stars, Wander Franco and Randy Arozarena, each had
first-inning singles. Velasquez walked Ji-Man Choi to load the
bases, and his control problems lingered with a bases-loaded walk to
Yandy Diaz to force in Franco.
Josh Lowe then hit a chopper back to Velasquez, but the pitcher was
unable to field the ball cleanly. Arozarena scored on the fielder's
choice by Velasquez.
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![](../images/041822pics/sports27.jpg)
Apr 17, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Tampa Bay Rays right fielder
Randy Arozarena (56) scores against the Chicago White Sox during the
first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil
Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
![](../images/ads/current/graue_lda_2021.gif)
Tampa Bay's fast start continued with Manuel
Margot, who had three hits on the day, singling to score Choi and
then Kiermaier drawing a bases-loaded walk to score Diaz.
In the inning, the Rays sent 10 men to the plate. There also was the
rare sight of first-inning activity in both bullpens as the White
Sox considered yanking Velasquez while Feyereisen tried to stay
warm.
Franco and Arozarena also factored heavily into Tampa Bay's success
in the eighth inning. After Mejia's two-run single, Franco and
Arozarena each drove in insurance runs with doubles.
-- Field Level Media
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