Rays Vs. White Sox: Dan Johnson Gives Tampa Bay Their First Win

Dan Johnson has hit 10 home runs for the Tampa Bay Rays in his career. Of those, 11 have tied the game or given the Rays the lead. That might be mathematically impossible, and it might not be entirely accurate, but the point stands: Johnson hits big home runs for the Rays. History repeated itself as the Rays came back and defeated the Chicago White Sox on Friday night, 9-7, for Tampa’s first win of the season..

The White Sox jumped out to an early lead after Gordon Beckham hit a solo home run in the first inning. The White Sox stretched the lead to 3-0 after Alex Rios doubled home a run and came around to score on a Paul Konerko single. Chicago tacked on a run in the sixth inning on an Alexei Ramirez solo shot, and after a two-run single from Mark Teahen in the eighth inning, led 7-4 heading into the top of the ninth.

After Elliot Johnson singled to lead off the ninth against Chicago reliever Matt Thornton, Ramirez made a throwing error on a Sam Fuld grounder, with Johnson coming in to score. A.L. East vagabond Johnny Damon reached on the second error of the inning, this one charged to Juan Pierre, which set up an RBI single from B.J. Upton. Dan Johnson then hit a three-run home run, giving the Rays a 9-7 lead that Kyle Farnsworth was able to preserve. All of Thornton’s five runs were unearned.

The Rays were the first team to start 0-6 after having the best record in the previous season since 1905, when the Boston Americans managed the feat. They are currently tied for not-first place with the Boston Red Sox.

The series continues tomorrow, with Wade Davis going for the Rays, and Philip Humber starting for the White Sox.