St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Jeff Niemann pitched eight strong innings and remained unbeaten on the season as the Rays topped the White Sox, 5-1, in the opener of a four-game series.
Jeff Niemann Gets Rays Back On Track With Win Over White Sox
Niemann (5-0) limited Chicago to three hits, including a homer by Mark Teahen in the eighth inning. The right-hander, who also had three walks and five strikeouts, has a career-best six-game winning streak dating back to his final start of 2009.
Carl Crawford homered and knocked in two runs as Tampa Bay bounced back after being swept at home by Boston by a 19-4 scoring margin over three contests. Evan Longoria also went deep for the Rays, while Hank Blalock added insurance with a two-run single in the eighth inning.
The White Sox, who started their road trip by winning two of three contests in Cleveland, had just four hits.
Gavin Floyd (2-5) gave up four hits and three runs over seven innings to suffer the loss.
Crawford took Floyd’s 1-0 pitch over the wall in center field with one out in the opening inning.
Niemann walked two batters the following inning, but he fanned Teahen and then Mark Kotsay was caught stealing as the Rays starting pitcher threw to third for the final out.
Alex Rios singled with one out the following inning for the White Sox. He stole second, but Niemann worked out of trouble by retiring Paul Konerko on a fly ball and fanning Kotsay.
Tampa Bay added to its lead in the fifth. Sean Rodriguez was hit by a pitch and Reid Brignac singled. Both runners advanced when Jason Bartlett popped out in foul territory down the right field line. Crawford then lifted a sacrifice fly to left.
Longoria homered to left field leading off the sixth, but Teahen homered to right on Niemann’s second pitch of the eighth inning.
The Rays tacked on two more runs in their half of the frame against Scott Linebrink. Longoria and John Jaso singled with one out. Both runners advanced on a passed ball before Blalock bounced a hit up the middle for the 5-1 cushion.
Niemann exited after throwing 94 pitches, 59 for strikes. Randy Choate gave up a single to A.J. Pierzynski to begin the ninth inning. Dan Wheeler entered from the bullpen and retired the ensuing three hitters.
The Rays are 8-2 over Niemann’s last 10 starts. He is also an outstanding 16-3 over his last 34 starts, since May 13, 2009...Tampa Bay went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and are 3-for-33 in those situations over the last four games...Despite their recent struggles, the Rays still own baseball’s best overall record at 33-15.
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