ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Jake Burger’s first career pinch-hit homer highlighted a three-run eighth inning and the Chicago White Sox stopped a four-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.
Adam Engel opened the eighth with a pinch-hit double off Brooks Raley and scored on Danny Mendick’s single. Burger then put Chicago up 3-2 with his drive off Jalen Beeks (1-1) as the White Sox won for just the third time in 10 games.
“It’s a special one for sure,” Burger said. “I’ll always remember that one. I just told myself to be smooth and be calm and don’t try and do too much. Fortunately, I got a pitch up in the zone that I could do something with.”
Reliever Kyle Crick (2-0) went 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win.
“We needed a win, but 10-0 would have been nice,” Chicago manager Tony La Russa said, “I’m convinced they mess with me just to … age me.”
After Kendall Graveman worked out of a bases loaded two-out jam in the eighth by getting a grounder from Isaac Paredes, Liam Hendriks got the final three outs for his 15th save in 18 chances.
Graveman loaded the bases by walking Brett Phillips, who is hitless in 21 at-bats, including 15 strikeouts. He did strikeout speedy Vidal Bruján with runners on the corners and one out.
“Probably the big at-bat is Vidal’s at-bat right there,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He’s really a tough guy to double up if he puts the ball in play but Graveman came back and made some big pitches, and then got Vidal to expand a little bit at the top of the zone.”
Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen was in line for his sixth win after scattering three hits over seven scoreless innings. The righty rebounded after allowing five runs over three innings Monday in a loss at…
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