Rays blast 4 HRs to back Chris Archer in big win over White Sox
CHICAGO (AP) -- Chris Archer and the Tampa Bay Rays were well on their way to a lopsided victory over the Chicago White Sox by the time Richie Shaffer homered.
Even so, that drive sparked the biggest celebration. After all, it was his first major league homer -- and the first hit of his career.
"It was what you dream of as a kid growing up, to be a part of that," Shaffer said.
Archer pitched seven strong innings, and Tampa Bay backed him with a season-high four homers while pounding Chris Sale and the White Sox 11-3 on Tuesday night.
Archer (10-8) allowed two runs and six hits for his first win since June 23. And the Rays matched their highest home run total since Sept. 7.
Logan Forsythe, Mikie Mahtook and Asdrubal Cabrera all went deep besides Shaffer. Kevin Kiermaier and Rene Rivera each had three hits, and Tampa Bay improved to 5-0 against Chicago.
Forsythe hit a two-run drive in the first. Mahtook made it 3-1 when he connected leading off the fifth, and the Rays chased Sale (9-7) in a five-run sixth. They sent 10 batters to the plate in that inning and added two more runs in the seventh on back-to-back homers by Cabrera and Shaffer against Daniel Webb.
Shaffer's drive to the right-field bullpen drew quite a reaction from his family and teammates. TV cameras caught his parents jumping out of their seats and hugging.
Shaffer got the silent treatment from the Rays before being drawn into a huddle in the dugout, just about everyone jumping in celebration.
Teammates dumped a cooler on Shaffer during a postgame interview on the field and showered him again in the clubhouse.
"It was an awesome experience, just a lot of fun," said Shaffer, who was called up from Triple-A Durham and debuted Monday.
Archer, who retired the first 19 batters in a loss to Detroit last week, finally got a win after going 0-4 in his previous six starts. The All-Star right-hander struck out seven and walked one.
Chicago's Tyler Saladino hit a solo homer off Archer in the third. Avisail Garcia went deep in the ninth, but the White Sox lost for the fifth time in six games after winning seven in a row.
Sale allowed seven runs in his second straight outing and fell to 1-3 in his past four starts. The four-time All-Star gave up six hits over 5-plus innings.
"I feel fine," Sale said. "My arm feels good, my body feels good, I feel loose. It's just not showing up. I don't know what it is."
He left trailing 5-1 after Kiermaier blooped an RBI single to center. A second run scored on the play when catcher Tyler Flowers allowed Adam Eaton's throw to roll between his legs and no one backed up the plate.
ANNIVERSARIES
Tuesday marked the 22nd anniversary of White Sox manager Robin Ventura's infamous fight with Texas' Nolan Ryan and the 30th of Tom Seaver's 300th win.
Seaver reached that milestone pitching for the White Sox at Yankee Stadium.
Ventura and Ryan provided one of the more memorable images. The White Sox third baseman charged the mound after getting hit by a pitch and wound up in a headlock while getting punched in the head by the 46-year-old Ryan.
"I don't know if it's a national or state holiday in Texas," Ventura said. "Do people get the day off for it?"
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: Manager Kevin Cash said "everything's good" with OF Desmond Jennings (left knee bursitis), on a rehab assignment with Durham. He was expected to play five or six innings Tuesday after going 0 for 4 on Monday. ... Cash said LHP Drew Smyly (torn left labrum) will make at least two more rehab starts, including one Thursday for Durham.
White Sox: Not sure if OF J.B. Shuck (strained left hamstring) will go on a rehab assignment before he returns. He went on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday.
UP NEXT
White Sox LHP Carlos Rodon (4-4, 4.84 ERA) and Rays RHP Erasmo Ramirez (8-4, 3.61) start as the teams wrap up a three-game series. Rodon, a rookie, gave up a career-high eight runs over three-plus innings in his shortest start last week against the New York Yankees. Ramirez is coming off a no-decision against Boston.
