The Tampa Bay Rays (43-24) defeated the Chicago White Sox (41-25) 5-2 on Monday night in a showdown of the teams with the best two records in the American League. Ji-Man Choi returned to the lineup for the Rays, after having gone on the ten-day injured list on June 4th with a strained left groin.
Tyler Glasnow got the start but threw just fifty-three pitches before being pulled due to right elbow inflammation. He is expected to have an MRI on Tuesday to determine the severity of the injury. He finished the game allowing just two earned runs on three hits in four innings while striking out six and walking one. From there the bullpen shut things down, pitching five shutout innings. J.P. Feyereisen (3-2, 2.32) earned the win after pitching two shutout innings, while Pete Fairbanks picked up his third save of the season.
Austin Meadows hit a two-run homer in the first to start the scoring for Tampa Bay, then Brandon Lowe added a solo shot in the third. After Chicago pulled within 3-2 in the bottom of the third, the Rays began to pull away late. Randy Arozerena hit a solo home run in the eighth inning, and Brett Phillips added another insurance run in the ninth to make the score 5-2.
The Rays and White Sox now meet in game two of their three game series on Tuesday night. First pitch Tuesday is scheduled for 8:10 PM - pregame coverage begins Jay Recher and the Inside Pitch at 7:00 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES