September 13-15, 2055: at Chicago White Sox (3)
Game 1: The Rays were thrashed 12-3 by the White Sox in their series opener. Erik Witten (3-2) was unscathed through the first two innings before giving up 6 runs without retiring anyone in the 3rd and finishing 2 6 6 6 2 1 while a pair of relievers each gave up 3 more. Takayuki Tsujimura's solo homer (#10) was the lone Tampa Bay highlight.
Game 2: Things looked better for a while in the second game, but the Rays succumbed to Chicago again 6-3 when the White Sox scored all their runs in the 7th. Jesus Avalos gave Tampa Bay a 2-0 lead on HR #33 in the first and Tim Johnson cruised through 6 before an error and a hit chased him from the game with nobody out. Adan Guardado (6-2) then made a mess, giving up three straight hits and by the time the dust settled the Rays were done. Johnson deserved a better fate after going 6 5 2 1 2 5 and Dantel Chinchilla added a solo homer (#8) in the 8th but it was too little, too late.
Game 3: The pitching was better for Tampa Bay in the finale but the result was the same as they fell 2-1 to Chicago and suffered a sweep and their fourth straight loss overall. Dave Rose was his usual excellent self at 6 2 1 1 1 7 and left a 1-1 game before Nate Trevathan (0-2) put a couple on in the 7th and Chris Resnick gave up the decisive hit. Joel Bland led off the game with his 10th Rays homer and 23rd overall but that would be it for their scoring despite having several good chances in the following innings.
Team record: 89-57. The Yankees took 2 of 3 to move within 5 1/2 so the magic number was only reduced by 1 to 11. No time for panic of course but some wins would help. Next up: Those wins will need to come in Anaheim as the Rays play the 90-57 Angels, who overtook them for the top record in MLB.
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