The Tampa Bay Rays (31-21) defeated the Chicago White Sox (23-27) 6-3 on Friday night at Tropicana Field. The win is the third in a row for the Rays, who won the last two games of the series against the Rangers in Texas. Tampa Bay is now ten games above .500 for the first time this season.
Tampa Bay wasted no time taking control of this game - after Shane McClanahan struck out the side in the top of the first, the Rays put up a four spot in the bottom of the first. Randy Arozarena's two-run home run was the blast that gave the Rays an early 4-0 lead.
Chicago got one back in the third and one in the sixth, but Ji-Man Choi drove in two in the seventh to make it 6-2 Rays. The White Sox got one more run in the ninth inning to pull within 6-3, but that would be as close as they could get.
Shane McClanahan (6-2, 2.10) put together another good outing, allowing just two earned runs on six hits while striking out eight and walking none in six innings of work. Colin Poche got the final out of the ninth to pick up his third save of the year.
The Rays will now look to win the series with the White Sox on Saturday afternoon. First pitch from the Trop is scheduled for 4:10 PM on Saturday - Neil Solondz begins pregame coverage at 3:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES