Andy Sonnanstine throws 3-hitter for 1st complete game, leading Rays over White Sox 5-0
Associated Press | Apr 19, 08 8:26 PM CDT in
Sports
Andy Sonnanstine threw a three-hitter for his first career complete game and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Chicago White Sox 5-0 on Saturday night.
The White Sox had just three singles, including a bunt hit, and didn't get a runner past second base. After two of the hits, Sonnanstine later got inning-ending double play grounders.
Sonnanstine (2-1) struck out four and walked one. The right-hander struggled in previous start Monday, allowing seven runs and nine hits over 3 1-3 innings against the New York Yankees.
Tampa Bay stopped a six-game losing skid against Chicago.
Mark Buehrle (1-2) gave up five runs and 12 hits in seven innings for the White Sox, who lost for the fifth time in the last 15 games. The left-hander, who had five strikeouts and two walks, dropped to 6-2 overall against the Rays.
A botched second-inning rundown cost the White Sox three runs.
Jonny Gomes was hit by a pitch from Buehrle with two outs in the second. He was caught leaning toward second on Buehrle's pick-off throw to first, but Chicago failed to get him out and Gomes took second. Gomes was credited with a stolen base.
Eric Hinske drove in Gomes with an RBI single to make it 1-0. Jason Bartlett and Akinori Iwamura added run-scoring singles to put Tampa Bay up 3-0.
The Rays went ahead 4-0 in the fourth when Gomes tripled to center and scored on Shawn Riggans' sacrifice fly. B.J. Upton extended the lead to 5-0 with a seventh-inning RBI double.
Chicago designated hitter Jim Thome grounded out in all three plate appearances. He had reached base safely in all of his previous 26 games at Tropicana Field.
Notes:@ Former White Sox coach Art Kusnyer spent time in the clubhouse before the game. Kusnyer, who is undergoing treatment for vision problems, hopes to resume his new role as a minor league bullpen instructor in June. "I was excited about coming up to see everybody," said Kusnyer, who lives in Sarasota, Fla. "My main focus is to get my sight back, to where I can drive. I'm pretty optimistic that I can get back to work." ... Rays 1B Carlos Pena, who sat out Friday's game with right hamstring tightness, was the DH. ... White Sox OF Jermaine Dye and C A.J. Pierzynski were rested.
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