The Sports Xchange
Jun 7, 2017
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Jacob Faria earned his first major league win in his debut as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Chicago White Sox 3-1 on Wednesday at Tropicana Field.
Faria, a former 10th-round pick, went 6 1/3 innings and gave up one run on three hits. He struck out five on 95 pitches (62 strikes). The Rays improved to 30-31, while the White Sox fell to 25-32.
Alex Colome pitched the ninth for his 16th save.
White Sox starter Mike Pelfrey (2-5) labored through 5 1/3 innings but managed to pitch himself out of trouble on most occasions and held the Rays to 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position to keep the game close.
Pelfrey gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits and walked three. He threw 96 pitches but only 54 for strikes.
Chicago got to Faria in the first inning and took a 1-0 lead on an RBI single by Jose Abreu. But Faria quickly settled down and retired the White Sox in order in the second, fourth and sixth innings.
The Rays put the leadoff runner on base against Pelfrey in the first four innings. They were able to cash in during the bottom of the third when Tim Beckham hit a two-run single with the bases loaded that scored Evan Longoria and Logan Morrison to give Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead.
The next batter, Daniel Robertson, grounded into a fielder's choice at third. Chicago third baseman Todd Frazier went home with the throw, but Colby Rasmus slid under the attempted tag by Kevan Smith to make the score 3-1.
NOTES: Major League Baseball is investigating allegations of domestic abuse against Rays C Derek Norris that were made by his ex-fiance Kristen Eck. Norris denied the allegations in a statement through his agent, telling the Tampa Bay Times they "could not be further from the truth" and that "I have never been physically or emotionally abusive toward her, or anyone else in my life." Rays manager Kevin Cash said that the team was going to let the investigation run its course. "I think we're basically out of it," Cash said. "We're going to let Major League Baseball handle it; obviously they do a good job of investigating and then we'll go from there." Norris was in the starting lineup and batted ninth. ... White Sox RHP James Shields will make his second rehab start Thursday for Triple-A Charlotte. ... The Rays placed SS Brad Miller on the 10-day DL with a hip strain. ... White Sox LHP Carlos Rodon is scheduled to make his second rehab start with Charlotte over the weekend.