Rays 2, White Sox 1
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays completed a three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox on Sunday afternoon, outdueling perhaps the hottest pitcher in baseball with a 2-1 win against left-hander Chris Sale at Tropicana Field.
The Rays (35-29) had been held to one hit in six innings by Sale before he gave up a two-run home run to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera in the bottom of the seventh. Sale struck out 12 batters -- his fourth straight with at least that many -- but took the loss after allowing more runs (two) than he had in his previous three starts combined (one).
Rays starter Nathan Karns kept his team in the game with six strong innings, holding the White Sox (28-33) to one run on seven hits, thanks to 1-for-9 hitting with runners in scoring position.
Tampa Bay's bullpen got the job done, with C.J. Riefenhauser, Steve Geltz and Kevin Jepsen providing a scoreless inning of relief each. Jepsen got a 1-2-3 ninth on seven pitches for his fifth save of the season.
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, continuing a stretch in which he went 3-0 with a 0.40 ERA in his previous three starts, with 39 strikeouts against just three walks.
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 kept Chicago at bay by holding them to 1-for-9 hitting with four strikeouts with runners in scoring position.
Karns trailed 1-0 after six innings, having thrown 104 pitches and striking out eight.
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.