First Time in 44 Years TODAY IN TAMPA BAY
By Kris Dunn on June 13, 2015White Sox at Rays & Blackhawks At Lightning
For the first time since 1971, we have a sports market playing host for a Stanley Cup Final game and a Major League Baseball game on the same day, between the same markets. Ironically, the city of Chicago was involved then as well. It was May 9, 1971, the Montreal Expos beat the Chicago Cubs while the Montreal Canadiens knocked off the Chicago Blackhawks.
This afternoon the Chicago White Sox invaded Tropicana Field while the Chicago Blackhawks looked to take a 3-2 series lead against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
In addition to that storyline, Rays starter Chris Archer hoped to extend his streak of 10 strikeout performances without allowing a walk. Archer entered the game with 38 whiffs over his last three starts (23.0 innings), all without allowing a single free pass.
After giving up a run in the first inning, Archer settled in nicely. He needed just 16 pitches to get through the next two innings. After a Kevin Kiermaier triple, Evan Longoria tied the game with an RBI-single. It looked like a double for Longoria, however, his slide took him beyond the second base bag and was ruled out on the tag. Rays manager Kevin Cash challenged the play and after a 1:19 review, the call was confirmed.
Kiermaier also scored the Rays’ second run of the game. After being hit by a Jeff Samardzija fastball, JoeyButler kept his hot streak going with a ground-rule double to right-center. Longoria drove in his second run, plating Kiermaier on a ground out to White Sox shortstop Alexi Ramirez.
The White Sox used three fourth-inning singles to tie the game at two. The most productive of which being off the bat of Melky Cabrera, driving in Jose Abreu from third.
Samardzija struck out Longoria with runners on the corners to get out of the fifth inning. He was not as successful in the seventh, however. After a Nick Franklin triple, Logan Forsythe gave the Rays a 3-2 lead.
The lead was short lived!
Brad Boxberger came on in relief after Chris Archer gave up his first walk since May 22. Pinch-hitter Connor Gillaspie proceeded to give the White Sox a 4-3 lead with his third home run of the season. Although not ideal, Archer did not seem upset about how his day ended.
“Our bullpen has been solid all year. You can’t really fault our manager for going to one of the better relievers in the game.” CHRIS ARCHER
The Rays would answer quickly.
David DeJesus singled up-the-middle with two outs in the eighth inning. After stealing second base, Steven Souza Jr drove him in with a line drive to left field. Souza was thrown out at second base trying to steal second. The umpires would review the call and after 3:18, Souza Jr was ruled safe. His eighth stolen base of the year. Souza came around to score after Ramirez threw the ball away after an infield single off the bat of Jake Elmore.
Although he allowed a walk and a base hit, JakeMcGee earned his third save of the season capping off an exciting afternoon at Tropicana Field.
The fun has just begun in Tampa Bay though. The Lightning and Blackhawks battle tonight in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals just 30 minutes east. If the Lightning win, the Bay Area will surely be celebrating the intense day-night / baseball-hockey doubleheader in victorious fashion.
More from Kris Dunn on @KrisDunnDV
Tags: Alexi Ramirez, chicago blackhawks, chicago cubs, chicago white sox, chris archer, Connor Gillaspie, David DeJesus, Jeff Samardzija, kevin kiermaier, logan Forsythe, Melky Cabrera, montreal canadiens, montreal expos, Nick Franklin, Stanley Cup Finals, tampa bay lightning, tropicana field
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