Rays rally in 9th to sweep White Sox, boost AL-best record to 11-7

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Apr 16, 2026

Published in Baseball

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CHICAGO — The Rays just had to be patient on Thursday afternoon.

Twice the White Sox scored a run, and twice the Rays rallied but could only get even. The ninth started the same way, when Junior Caminero led off with a homer to once again tie the score.

But this time, they found ways to keep the rally going and, thanks to a pair of bases-loaded walks, ended with a 5-3 victory that extended their winning streak to six games and improved their American League-best record to 11-7.

With his team down 3-2 going to the ninth, Caminero got the Rays even, leading off the inning with a home run off Sox closer Seranthony Dominguez. He got booed crossing the plate and gestured for the fans to keep the noise coming.

The Rays had ample chance for more, as Yandy Diaz singled with one out, Jonathan Aranda walked and Richie Palacios, after fouling off four two-strike pitches, was hit by a pitch.

Jake Fraley looked like he had driven in a run when he took what was called ball four from Lucas Sims, the Sox’s seventh pitcher on a planned bullpen day. But catcher Edgar Quero challenged the call via the Automated Ball-Strike system, and it was overturned.

But Sims continued to struggle throwing strikes, and it paid off for the Rays as Hunter Feduccia and Taylor Walls both drew bases-loaded walks to force in runs.

Everson Pereira, who was a Ray for the final two months of last season, gave the Sox the lead for the third time with a homer off Kevin Kelly with one out in the eighth.

The Rays twice fell behind by a run and got back to even but couldn’t get ahead, in big part because they were 3 for 10 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on to that point.

The White Sox took a 1-0 lead in the third when Miguel Vargas homered off Rays starter Steven Matz with one out.

Matz looked to have Vargas struck out on a 2-2 sinker that was called a strike, but Vargas challenged under the ABS system and the call was overturned. Vargas hit the next pitch out.

The Rays came right back to tie the score in the fourth with a two-out rally. Jonny DeLuca drew a two-out walk, went to third on a single by Nick Fortes and scored on another single by No. 9 hitter Taylor Walls.

The Rays had a chance to add on in the fifth when they loaded the bases, but Jake Fraley struck out to end it.

The Sox took the lead back in the sixth. Chase Meidroth led off with a double off Matz, and Pereira drew a one-out walk. Manager Kevin Cash decided 74 pitches were enough for Matz and turned to Griffin Jax, who has been better since a rough opening week.

Jax immediately gave up a run, as catcher Quero doubled over the head of left fielder Chandler Simpson. The Sox only got one, as the ball bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double.

The Rays got back to even in the seventh against the ongoing parade of Chicago pitchers on a planned bullpen day.

Cedric Mullins drew a one-out walk, then went to second on Diaz’s single that ended Grant Taylor’s day.

After Sean Newcomb struck out Aranda, Palacios hit a liner toward left that went off the glove of leaping third baseman Vargas, scoring Mullins.

The Rays left after the game for Pittsburgh, where they play a weekend series against former teammates Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum and Mason Montgomery, and the rest of the Pirates.