For the second day in a row, the Chicago White Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Saturday at Guaranteed Rate Field.
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After winning four of their first five games, the Rays have been down in the last four games. The Oakland Athletics have defeated them twice in a row, like the White Sox.
The Rays players didn’t have their best batting performance hitting just five balls to the safest spot. Opposing starter Michael Kopech only fielded three men, two of them on walks. Twelve visitors were withdrawn however on strikes during this match, including five thanks to the arm of the 25-year-old right-hander.
The Rays opened the scoring in the first inning, when Harold Ramirez raised a Kopech offering, which allowed Brandon Lowe to cross the plate at full speed.
The Sox came alive in the fourth with a two-run homer from José Abreu, his first of the year. After the equalizer in the sixth round at bat, by Manuel Margot, Yasmani Grandal changed the situation at the end of the inning with a paying single.
Reliever Ryan Thompson (1-1) added the backhand to his record, while the win went to Reynaldo Lopez (2-0). On the mound in the ninth inning, Liam Hendriks recorded a fourth save.
Late offensive in New York
At Citi Field, it took until the seventh inning to see points between the New York Mets and the Arizona Diamondbacks, and it was the latter who won 3-2.
Both teams’ pitchers kept the scoresheet blank until the seventh inning, when the D-backs made a three-point push. Sergio Alcantara then sent a shot from Seth Lugo into the center field stands for two runs. Ketel Marte added a few hitters later, with a double that led Daulton Varsho to the plate.
Starling Marte, who is not related to Ketel Marte, was the Mets’ lone scorer in the eighth inning. The veteran hit a long ball for two runs.
Reliever Mark Melancon got his first save in a Diamondbacks uniform. The 37-year-old has now managed one with eight different teams. With the San Diego Padres last year, Melancon led major league baseball with 39 saves.
