White Sox take series from Rays in battle of AL division leaders

Anthony Kay spun 6 1/3 shutout innings, Everson Pereira homered and drove in a career high-tying four runs, and the Chicago White Sox won the first series of their six-game road trip with a 9-1 blowout of the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday afternoon in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The left-handed Kay (8-5) scattered seven hits -- all singles - over 89 pitches while striking out three and walking one to win for the second time in three starts.

The injury-plagued Pereira, who appeared in 23 games for the Rays last season, homered for the first time since April 16 and doubled. Miguel Vargas and Andrew Benintendi also went deep while Chase Meidroth had two hits and a walk.

Rays starter Griffin Jax (6-9) allowed two unearned runs in the first inning and finished with one earned run over five frames. He yielded three hits and fanned eight.

Ben Williamson homered and Chandler Simpson had three hits. Ryan Vilade and Junior Caminero added two hits apiece as the Rays, who stranded 10 baserunners, finished 6-3 on their homestand.

After Sam Antonacci reached on an error by second baseman Vilade on the game's first play, Jax's error with two outs and runners on second and third led to two unearned runs.

The pitcher got Benintendi to tap an easy comebacker on a checked swing, but Jax bobbled it with his bare hand to allow Antonacci to score. A successful double steal of home by Colson Montgomery with Benintendi on the back end made it 2-0.

Benintendi, who went deep in Chicago's 6-1 series-opening win Friday, was back at it in the fourth when he belted Jax's 85-mph sweeper a few rows beyond the right center wall for a 3-0 cushion.

Jonathan Aranda, Vilade and Simpson loaded the bases with singles in the fourth, but Kay induced a popout and a high chopper that he went back on, fielded cleanly and fired to first to keep the three-run margin.

The American League Central leaders took advantage of two walks by reliever Craig Kimbrel in the sixth when Pereira ripped a two-run double into the left center gap for a 5-0 advantage.

Tampa Bay loaded the bases again in the sixth, but Kay forced Williamson to hit a fielder's choice to shortstop to stop the threat.

Pereira and Vargas swatted two-run homers in the ninth, then Williamson answered with a solo shot to spoil the shutout.

--Field Level Media