White Sox take 2 of 3 versus Rays.

The fourth week of the KOD 21 schedule matched up the 1993 Chicago White Sox versus the 2013
Tampa Bay Rays.

Game 1  (Chicago  7, Tampa Bay 3)

Game 1 from Tropicana Field in Tampa Florida, featured the pitching match up of Jack McDowell for the visiting Sox and Alex Cobb for the Rays.

The Pale Hose got on the board first, with a 2 run third inning. Tim Raines lead off with a double, a walk and rbi's by Lance Johnson and Frank Thomas gave the Sox the early lead.
Tampa catcher Jose Molina hit a solo home run in the bottom of the frame to make a one run game.
Chicago added single runs in the 4th and 5th innings and Tampa pushed a run across in their half of the 5th.
Top of the 9th and the White Sox lead 4-3. Manager Joe Maddon goes to the pen and brings in Jake McGee who walked 2 batters and gave up a 3 run 426 foot HR to Robin Ventura. 7-3 for the bad guys! Rays retired in order in the bottom of the frame.

Game 2  (Tampa Bay 3, Chicago 2 11 innings)

The second game of the series had Chicago pitcher Alex Fernandez against Chris Archer for the Rays.
Both pitchers cruised along until the Tampa 4th, when newly called up for the series David DeJesus belted a solo HR  down the right field line giving the Rays a 1 run lead.
The White Sox put 2 on the board in the 5th. Robin Ventura once again made his presence with an rbi double.
The Rays answered with a run in the 5th, thanks to a lead off double by DeJesus and a Desmond Jennings rbi single. Score all even at 2 apiece.
The score remained tied with 8 strong innings from Fernandez until the bottom of the 11 inning.
James Loney's double knocked in Jose Molina, who was almost pulled for a pinch runner in the 8th scored the game winning run to even the series at one a piece.

Game 3 (Chicago 4, Tampa Bay 2)

The series headed north to Comiskey Park. On the hill for the visiting Rays the lefty David Price and the White Sox sent out Wilson Alvarez.

The White Sox took advantage of 4 straight singles in the 4th off Price to take a 2-0 lead. Frank Thomas and Lance Johnson were both called safe on close plays at the plate.

Tampa got on the board in the 6th, Evan Longoria's rbi single knocked in Zobrist. Prior to that Jennings was waved home and called out on a Zobrist double.

The home town Sox added two insurance runs in the 8th. Rbi singles by Mike LaValliere and Ozzie Guillen gave them a 4-1 lead.

Tampa Bay tried to mount a comeback in the 9th, with Longoria doubling and a double by DeJesus made the score 4-2. That chased Alvarez and the Sox brought in reliever Jose DeLeon, who gave up a walk but retired the next 3 Rays batters to seal the victoy for the bad guys.

93 White Sox win the series 2 games to 1. A very fun series to play. All 3 games came down to the wire. Tampa couldn't get the clutch hits, and the Chicago starters were strong in all 3 games.