Field Level Media
Aug 21, 2021
Luis Patino allowed two runs in six innings as the host Tampa Bay Rays posted an 8-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday afternoon in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Entering the game with a 6.00 ERA in three August starts, Patino (3-3) surrendered five hits and struck out five before exiting after 91 pitches.
Wander Franco went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI. The rookie stretched his majors-best on-base streak to 23 games -- one off Rocco Baldelli's team rookie record from 2003.
Brandon Lowe and Manuel Margot produced two doubles and two RBIs apiece as the Rays moved to a majors-leading 33-15 in day games.
Chicago's Jose Abreu was 2-for-3 with double, run and an RBI. Eloy Jimenez's hitting streak moved to 10 games with a single and two RBIs as the White Sox lost for the second time in six games.
Left-hander Dallas Keuchel (8-7) yielded six runs on nine hits over five innings in his 24th start.
Wearing their old Devil Rays uniforms, Tampa Bay got singles by Nelson Cruz and Yandy Diaz to put runners on first and second in the first inning.
Franco's two-out bouncer appeared to be an easy fielder's choice at the bag for third baseman Yoan Moncada. But the ball's second bounce struck the top of the base and bouncing over Moncada's head to send home Cruz.
Lowe followed with his first double of the game to score Diaz and Franco for a 3-0 lead.
The American League East leaders pushed it to a four-run edge in the second inning on Cruz's RBI groundout. Chicago trimmed its deficit in the next inning after Seby Zavala launched Patino's slider deep over the wall in left field for his fifth home run.
In the fourth inning, Mike Zunino rocked a shot to left-center that took an odd bounce, resulting in the catcher's first triple this season. Joey Wendle (two hits, two RBIs) poked a single through a drawn-in infield for a 5-1 lead.
Margot added another run with an RBI single in the fifth inning to plate Franco, but Abreu's two-out double and Jimenez's single made it 6-2 in the sixth.
The White Sox scored twice in the eighth inning, but reliever Collin McHugh shut down the threat. He also pitched the ninth to secure his first save of the season.
--Field Level Media