ARLINGTON, Texas — It probably would not be wise, especially with the pitchers the White Sox are starting this weekend, to say the Rays have broken out of the extended slump that has ailed their offense.
But Thursday was another step in the that direction, most notably because Rays batters stepped on a base in each inning.
They beat the Rangers 3-1 for a split of the four-game series and their 30th W of the season.
The Rays rapped nine hits for the afternoon and drew seven walks. While they only had the three runs to show for it — and left 11 on, going 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position — that could still be considered progress given their Tuesday-Wednesday stretch of having 30 straight batters retired.
Facing a lesser starter in Texas lefty Taylor Hearn, the Rays took advantage with a 3-0 lead.
Francisco Mejia led off the second inning with a double, then with two outs Vidal Brujan laced a ball to centerfield that one-hopped the wall for their first run.
The Rays rallied and got some help with two more in third. Manuel Margot drew a one-out walk, Harold Ramirez singled and Yandy Diaz followed with another hit to score one. Hearn walked Mejia to load the bases, and Isaac Paredes forced in a run to make it 3-0.
Corey Kluber gave the Rays a second straight strong start, allowing just one run over six innings (a Marcus Semien homer with two outs in the sixth). Kluber allowed four hits total, walked none and struck out four.
The Rangers threatened in the seventh on a rare down outing by Jason Adam, getting two of the first three on, but lefty Brooks Raley came on to record two strikeouts,
New addition Shawn Armstrong and JP Feyereisen teamed to work the eighth.
The Rays face the pedestrian Vince Velasquez in Friday’s series opener, then two of the White Sox’s best in Dylan Cease and Lucas Giolito.
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