SB Nation Tampa Bay - Rays Vs. White Sox: Tampa Bay fighting for Wild Cardhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49019/tb-fave.png2012-09-30T17:57:44-04:00http://tampabay.sbnation.com/rss/stream/31832112012-09-30T17:57:44-04:002012-09-30T17:57:44-04:00Rays stay alive for Wild Card, beat White Sox 6-2
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<p>The <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Rays</a> are still in the hunt for the last Wild Card spot, as they beat the <a href="https://www.southsidesox.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago White Sox</a> on Sunday, 6-2. It was the Rays' 10th win in their last 11 games, and they are 2½ games behind the <a href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Athletics</a> for the last Wild Card berth.</p>
<p><span>David Price</span> won his 20th game of the year, pitching seven strong innings, giving up two runs and striking out four. Rookie Jose Quintana took the loss for the White Sox. <span>Fernando Rodney</span> pitched a scoreless ninth, striking out two and lowering his ERA for the year to 0.61.</p>
<p><span>B.J. Upton</span> hit his 27th and 28th home runs and batted in three runs, and <span>Ryan Roberts</span> had a solo home run to pace the Rays offense.</p>
<p>The Rays head home to end their regular season with an absolutely massive series against the <a href="https://www.camdenchat.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Baltimore Orioles</a>. <span>Alex Cobb</span> will face <span>Bruce Chen</span> on Monday night at 7:10 p.m. ET to start the series.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays-news/2012/9/30/3434218/rays-vs-white-sox-final-scorePeter Berkes2012-09-30T14:16:07-04:002012-09-30T14:16:07-04:00MLB Standings: Rays clinging to slim playoff hopes
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<p>With only four games remaining in the regular season and trailing by three games in the American League Wild Card chase, the <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Rays</a> are facing a must-win situation beginning Sunday against the <a href="https://www.southsidesox.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago White Sox</a>.</p>
<p>The Rays trail the <a href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oakland Athletics</a> by three games for the second AL Wild Card spot. If the Rays lose Sunday and the Athletics win, Tampa Bay will be eliminated from the playoffs. The good news for the Rays is they have been playing extremely well lately. Tampa Bay has won nine of its last 10 games.</p>
<p>They've won two of the first three games against Chicago and will then finish the season with three games at home against the <a href="https://www.camdenchat.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Baltimore Orioles</a>. The Rays currently trail Baltimore by four games in the AL East. The Orioles are tied for the division lead with the <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Yankees</a>.</p>
<p>While the Rays have been playing well lately, they have been unable to gain significant ground recently as the Athletics and Orioles have both been winning as well. Baltimore has won its last three games with Oakland has won two straight.</p>
<p>Complete MLB standings can be<a target="_blank" href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/standings/?xid=sbnation"> found at Sports Illustrated</a>.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays-news/2012/9/30/3433294/mlb-playoff-standings-2012Mark Sandritter2012-09-30T13:00:15-04:002012-09-30T13:00:15-04:00Rays-White Sox lineups announced for Sunday
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<p>The <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Rays</a> are still fighting for a wild card spot in the American League playoffs, but it may be too little, too late for the Rays, who are three games out of a wild card berth with only four games left.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.southsidesox.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">White Sox</a>, meanwhile, have slid in the AL playoff picture and trail the <a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Tigers</a> by two games in the Central division lead. Chicago has dropped eight of its last 10 and are eliminated from wild card contention.</p>
<p>That's what makes this game compelling -- two teams desperately motivated, but on opposite ends of the spectrum. Check out the lineups for Sunday here:</p>
<p><b>Rays </b></p>
<p>1. <span>Desmond Jennings</span> (R) LF<br>2. <span>B.J. Upton</span> (R) CF<br>3. <span>Ben Zobrist</span> (S) SS<br>4. <span>Evan Longoria</span> (R) 3B<br>5. <span>Jeff Keppinger</span> (R) 1B<br>6. <span>Luke Scott</span> (L) DH<br>7. <span>Ben Francisco</span> (R) RF<br>8. <span>Ryan Roberts</span> (R) 2B<br>9. <span>Chris Gimenez</span> (R) C</p>
<p><b>White Sox</b></p>
<p>1. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/players/446/dewayne-wise#stories_tab">Dewayne Wise</a> (L) CF<br>2. <span>Kevin Youkilis</span> (R) 3B<br>3. <span>Adam Dunn</span> (L) DH<br>4. <span>Paul Konerko</span> (R) 1B<br>5. <span>Alex Rios</span> (R) RF<br>6. <span>A.J. Pierzynski</span> (L) C<br>7. <span>Dayan Viciedo</span> (R) LF<br>8. <span>Alexei Ramirez</span> (R) SS<br>9. <span>Gordon Beckham</span> (R) 2B</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays-news/2012/9/30/3432912/rays-vs-white-sox-lineupsBrandon Scott2012-09-30T00:01:31-04:002012-09-30T00:01:31-04:00Rays vs. White Sox time, TV, radio and more
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> will try to keep up their hot streak when they take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">Chicago White Sox</a> on Sunday. <span>David Price</span> will take the hill for the Rays, where he'll face off with rookie <span>Jose Quintana</span>. Price hasn't lost a decision since August 27th against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a>, and the Rays will need him to keep up his form for them to have a chance to sneak into the wildcard game.</p>
<p>The Rays have won nine of their last ten games, but still sit three games behind the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a> for the final AL wild card berth. An Oakland win and a Tampa loss would eliminate the Rays, as would two Oakland victories in their remaining games, regardless of how the Rays do.</p>
<p>First pitch on Sunday is 2:10 p.m. ET from Chicago. The game will be shown on Sun Sports and TBS. The radio broadcast can be heard on WFLA 970 and WAMA 1550 (Spanish).</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays-news/2012/9/30/3431214/rays-vs-white-sox-time-tv-radio-and-morePeter Berkes2012-09-29T20:55:49-04:002012-09-29T20:55:49-04:00Rays beat White Sox 10-4, but fail to gain on WC
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> have won nine of their last ten games, but remain on the outside of the playoff race after a 10-4 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">Chicago White Sox</a>. <span>Matt Moore</span> threw 5⅓ innings of one hit ball for his 11th win of the year. <span>Chris Sale</span> took the loss for the White Sox, giving up five runs in only 3⅓ innings of work. Sale did manage to strike out seven. <span>Chris Archer</span> earned a rare three inning save.</p>
<p><span>Matt Joyce</span> hit two home runs for the Rays, and <span>Jeff Keppinger</span> and <span>Chris Gimenez</span> each contributed one home run a piece. <span>Orlando Hudson</span> hit a grand slam in the ninth for the White Sox in the eight inning, but the game was no longer in doubt by that point.</p>
<p>The Rays, despite the win, failed to gain any ground on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a> for the final wildcard spot. Tampa will look to finish off the White Sox series with a win on Sunday. First pitch is set for 2:10 p.m. ET.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays-news/2012/9/29/3430380/rays-vs-white-sox-final-score-tampa-takes-10-4-win-over-chicagoPeter Berkes2012-09-29T09:00:00-04:002012-09-29T09:00:00-04:00Can Matt Moore keep the Rays playoff hopes alive?
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">Chicago White Sox</a> have split the first two games of their four-game weekend set, but the Rays will be looking for a big win on Saturday as they try and keep their slim postseason hopes alive. Tampa had been on an eight-game winning streak before losing 3-1 on Friday night at U.S. Cellular Field.</p>
<p>And while Tampa still has an opportunity to make the playoffs, Friday's loss definitely hurt their chances. The Rays now sit three games behind the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Oakland A's</a> for the second spot in the AL Wild Card after Oakland defeated the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Seattle Mariners</a> on Friday, 8-2. Tampa has just five games left to play in the regular season.</p>
<p>On Saturday, the Rays will turn to rookie pitcher <span>Matt Moore</span><span class="sbn-auto-link">,</span> who is 0-4 with a 5.72 ERA in his last six starts. In his last three outings on the mound, the left-hander has lasted just four innings or less. The White Sox are expected to send <span>Chris Sale</span> to pitch opposite Moore. The last time these two met was in May with Moore taking the loss, as the White Sox went on to sweep the series with the Rays.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays-news/2012/9/29/3427300/rays-vs-white-sox-game-preview-matt-moore-chris-saleBryan Crawford2012-09-28T23:40:38-04:002012-09-28T23:40:38-04:00Rays drop 3-1 decision at Chicago
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<p>The <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Rays</a> dropped a 3-1 decision to the <a href="https://www.southsidesox.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago White Sox</a> on Friday night at U.S. Cellular Field, taking a step in the wrong direction if they are going to earn a playoff berth.</p>
<p><span>Ben Zobrist</span> gave the Rays a 1-0 lead with a two-out homer in the first inning, but that was all the scoring the Tampa Bay hitters would be able to produce. The Rays managed just two hits over the next eight innings: singles by <span>Luke Scott</span> and <span>Jeff Keppinger</span>.</p>
<p><span>Jeremy Hellickson</span> (9-11, 3.20 ERA) didn't pitch poorly, but without much run support, he couldn't avoid the loss. Hellickson gave up three runs -- two earned -- on nine hits in 5⅔ innings. <span>Gavin Floyd</span> (11-11, 4.47 ERA) picked up the win for Chicago, allowing a run on two hits in five innings. <span>Addison Reed</span> recorded two outs in the ninth inning to earn his 29th save.</p>
<p>The loss wasn't a crushing blow to the Rays' playoff hopes, but it certainly didn't help. The American League East race is all but over, as the <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Yankees</a> hold a five-game lead with five to play. Tampa Bay is now 2½ games out of the final AL Wild Card spot.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays-news/2012/9/28/3426628/rays-vs-white-sox-tampa-bay-falls-3-1-in-crucial-game-against-chicagoChris Fuhrmeister2012-09-28T08:46:17-04:002012-09-28T08:46:17-04:00Rays look to keep hopes alive
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<p>The <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Rays</a> are one of five American League teams still mathematically alive for one of the two Wild Card spots. They can eliminate one of those teams with one more win over the <a href="https://www.southsidesox.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago White Sox</a>.</p>
<p>The Rays (86-70) and White Sox (82-74) meet Friday night after <span>Evan Longoria's</span> ninth-inning homer gave Tampa Bay a 3-2 win in Thursday night's opener of the pivotal 4-game set in Chicago. Each team has six games remaining.</p>
<p>Tampa Bay is 2 games behind the <a href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oakland Athletics</a> for the second and final playoff spot, as are the Anaheim <a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Angels</a>. Baltimore is the top seed, a game ahead of Oakland. Chicago, after leading the AL Central most of the season, finds itself on the outside looking in, 2 games behind the <a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Tigers</a>. Chicago's elimination number for the Wild Card is down to 1.</p>
<p>The third-place Rays are still alive for the AL East crown, as well, just 4 games back of the division-leading <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Yankees</a>, though it'd take near-perfect play and a Yankees collapse for that to happen. The Wild Card is still very much in play for Tampa Bay, even if they are one of four teams fighting for a spot during the season's final week.</p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays-news/2012/9/28/3422390/mlb-playoff-standings-2012Kevin Jeffers