The Chicago White Sox snapped their seven-game losing streak with a series-opening victory against the Tampa Bay Rays. Friday's victory marked the first series-opening win for Chicago in 2024. The South Siders scored a season-high nine runs in support of good starting pitching and a rocky night from the bullpen.
The Pale Hose have four-, five-, six-, and seven-game losing streaks only 26 games into 2024. They've made moves recently to bolster their offense and veer off the course of record levels of losing. With two of their top hitters out for an extended period, the Sox belted two homers, and both blasts expanded their lead to five runs.
Not Again
The White Sox claimed an early 2-0 lead for starter Chris Flexen with Andrew Vaughn's third-inning sacrifice fly and Paul DeJong's RBI single in the fourth.
However, the usual story of an early lead disappearing in the later innings didn't take hold. In the sixth, Martin Maldonado belted a three-run homer to give the Sox a 5-0 lead.
Flexen earned the win with five scoreless innings before Dominic Leone relieved him in the sixth. The righty walked the first two hitters, Randy Arozarena and Yandy Diaz, before exiting the game. Leone stepped up and retired the next three hitters to escape the jam and help Flexen earn his first win of the year.
Tampa Bay scored twice in the seventh, and both runs were charged to struggling reliever Deivi Garcia. However, Jordan Leasure issued two free passes, resulting in the second run before recording the last out.
Out Of Reach
The game started to follow a similar script until Eloy Jimenez stepped up to the plate in the seventh.
Robbie Grossman led off the inning with a walk and recently called up Rafael Ortega pinch-ran for the veteran. Jimenez then belted a two-run homer to left field.
Ortega drove in a run in the eighth with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly that scored Maldonado, and Nicky Lopez scored on a wild pitch for the ninth and final run.
News and Notes
The White Sox added Tommy Pham to the roster and designated Kevin Pillar for assignment. They also designated Bailey Horn for assignment, sent down struggling outfielder Dominic Fletcher, and called up Rafael Ortega.
Eloy Jimenez is 8-for-28 with three homers, eight RBIs, and a .962 OPS.
What's On Tap Next?
The White Sox will try to win consecutive games and a series on Saturday night with rookie Jonathan Cannon on the mound against Aaron Civale. First pitch is at 6:10 and the game will air on NBC Sports Chicago.
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