Vaughn, Chicago White Sox stop slide with wild 12-9 win against Tampa Bay Rays
CHICAGO (AP) — On the very last day of a mostly miserable April, Andrew Vaughn and the Chicago White Sox finally got to celebrate again.
Vaughn capped Chicago's seven-run ninth inning with a three-run homer, and the White Sox stopped a 10-game losing streak with a wild 12-9 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
Yasmani Grandal also homered and Adam Haseley had four hits as Chicago won for the first time since April 18. It was the longest slide for the team since it also dropped 10 in a row in 2013.
"That felt like a huge weight off our shoulders," Vaughn said. "You know April showers bring May flowers, so here we go."
Chicago finished with a season-high 18 hits. It was the franchise's biggest ninth-inning comeback since it trailed 10-4 against Minnesota on Sept. 7, 2007, before winning in extra innings.
"We've got some fight in that clubhouse," first-year manager Pedro Grifol said.
Jake Burger sparked the winning rally with a one-out RBI double against Jalen Beeks (0-2). Oscar Colás then hit a sacrifice fly and Elvis Andrus made it 9-8 with a run-scoring single.
After Lenyn Sosa's single, Beeks was replaced by Garrett Cleavinger. But Haseley greeted Cleavinger with a tying single and Vaughn followed with his third homer of the season, a drive to left field that led to a big celebration at home plate.
"Sometimes hits are contagious, and it seemed like that was pretty much what was happening in that last inning," Haseley said.
Vaughn said he "blacked out" as he rounded the bases, but he remembered crossing home plate.
"Yeah, I do, and I'll have a nice little shiner tomorrow," a grinning Vaughn said.
Aaron Bummer (1-1) got the win after he allowed two runs in the top of the ninth.
Luke Raley homered twice and drove in three runs for Tampa Bay, which went 6-1 against Chicago this season. Taylor Walls and Christian Bethancourt also connected.
"We've got a lot of confidence in this group, and confidence there to the very last pitch to Vaughn that we were going to find a way to win the ballgame," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Ultimately we just didn't today."
The White Sox led 4-2 after seven innings on a rainy, overcast afternoon. Grandal hit a two-run homer in the sixth, and Eloy Jiménez added an RBI single in the seventh.
But Tampa Bay showed off its power during a five-run eighth, taking advantage of sloppy play by Chicago. The Rays also trailed 3-0 after six innings on Saturday, then scored 10 runs in the seventh on their way to a 12-3 victory.
Tampa Bay scored its first run in the eighth when Colás mishandled Isaac Paredes' single to right against Reynaldo López. Raley hit a two-run shot to center with one out, lifting the Rays to a 5-4 lead.
After López departed with a trainer, Bethancourt hit a solo shot off Kendall Graveman. Manuel Margot was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored when Romy González dropped Brandon Lowe's fly ball to left — drawing boos from the crowd of 17,049 at Guaranteed Rate Field.
"Just a lot of good at-bats," Cash said.
It was Raley's second career multihomer game — he also accomplished the feat on April 3 at Washington. He has four homers in his last five games and seven on the season.
Tampa Bay increased its major league-leading total to 61 homers during its 23-6 start. The Rays became the second team to hit at least 61 homers in its first 29 games, joining St. Louis with 64 in 2000.
HE'S HERE
Right-hander Javy Guerra joined Tampa Bay's bullpen after he was acquired in a trade with Milwaukee on Saturday. To make room on the active roster, right-hander Calvin Faucher was optioned to Triple-A Durham.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: INF Wander Franco and 1B Yandy Díaz (left shoulder soreness) were rested. The Rays also have an off day on Monday.
White Sox: Grifol said the early reports on López indicate "a little dead arm in the biceps." He wasn't sure about tests or a possible IL stint for the reliever. "I'm optimistic it's going to be OK," Grifol said. ... Grifol said Jiménez is playing with some soreness in his legs. Jiménez finished with four hits. ... CF Luis Robert Jr. (right hamstring tightness) entered as a pinch hitter in the seventh. He was hit by a pitch and then replaced by a pinch runner. ... SS Tim Anderson (sprained left knee) and INF Hanser Alberto (strained left quad) also are expected to return for the series opener against the Twins. Anderson and Alberto are on rehab assignments with Triple-A Charlotte.
UP NEXT
Rays: Head home to begin a three-game series against Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.
White Sox: RHP Michael Kopech (0-3, 7.01 ERA) starts Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series against Minnesota. RHP Joe Ryan (5-0, 2.81 ERA) takes the mound for the Twins.