3 takeaways as Chicago White Sox suffer series sweep, including a bullpen collapse and a challenging afternoon
The Chicago White Sox squandered a late lead, suffering a 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday in front of 10,128 at Rate Field. The Sox entered the ninth ahead by one run. But the Rays scored three times in the inning on the way to sweeping the Sox (6-13).
Junior Caminero hit a tying home run leading off the ninth against Sox closer Seranthony Domínguez. Hunter Feduccia and Taylor Walls drew bases-loaded walks against reliever Lucas Sims. Here are three takeaways from Rate Field.
1. It was a tough ninth inning for the Sox bullpen. Domínguez found trouble right away against Caminero, beginning the at-bat with three straight balls.
He got a sinker off the plate for a called strike and then went back to the pitch again. Caminero connected for the solo home run that just got over the left-field wall. Domínguez struck out Cedric Mullins, but the Rays then loaded the bases with a single, a walk and a batter getting hit by a pitch.
“I think it’s one of those where he didn’t have his best stuff,” Sox manager Will Venable said. “He wasn’t able to command the ball. ” Sims entered and struck out Jake Fraley looking on a pitch that initially was called a ball on a 3-2 count but was overturned to a strike on a challenge.
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