Chicago White Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays Box Score on Jun 08, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jun 8, 2017

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- A day after controversy erupted regarding Derek Norris, his bat erupted for two home runs, lifting the Tampa Bay Rays to a 7-5 victory against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday at Tropicana Field.

Major League Baseball is investigating allegations from Norris' former fiancee that the catcher "physically and mentally abused'' her.

Tampa Bay (31-31) took two of three against the White Sox to move back to .500.

Rays starter Jake Odorizzi (4-3) went 6 2/3 innings and gave up three runs on eight hits. Alex Colome recorded four outs for his 17th save.

Chicago (25-33) did its best to rally from a 6-0 deficit in the later innings. The White Sox finally got to Odorizzi in the top of the sixth when Avasail Garcia belted a three-run homer to left-center field to make it 6-3.

Todd Frazier added a two-run homer off reliever Ryne Stanek in the eighth inning to trim the deficit to 6-5. Tim Anderson followed with a double and stole third base with one out, but Stanek and Colome got the final two outs without any further damage.

Colby Rasmus provided an insurance run for the Rays in the bottom of the eighth inning with a solo homer to right field off Gregory Infante.

The Rays took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Kevin Kiermaier's hit to center field bounced off of Adam Engel's chest off the hop and was ruled a double. Tim Beckham scored on the play.

Norris made it 2-0 in the bottom of the third with his first home run, a solo shot to left field off White Sox starter Derek Holland. The Rays tacked on a second run in the inning with an RBI bloop single from Evan Longoria that Peter Bourjos scored on.

Tampa Bay extended its lead with three more runs off Holland in the bottom of the fourth. Norris hit his second homer of the game, a two-run blast in nearly the same spot in left field. Bourjos followed with a solo home run, the eighth time this season the Rays have hit back-to-back homers.

Chicago had opportunities early, but failed to capitalize. In the top of the third inning Willy Garcia hit a double to right center field and advanced to third on a throwing error. Beckham's throw to get Garcia at third sailed over Longoria's head but Bourjos fielded the ball and threw Garcia out at home.

The White Sox had runners on second and third with one out in the top of the fifth inning but Odorizzi struck out Kevan Smith and retired Garcia on a grounder to second to escape the jam.

Holland gave up six runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings before being replaced by Juan Minaya.

NOTES: Rays OF Kevin Kiermaier left Thursday's game in the fifth inning with a right hip injury after taking a fall during a close play at first base. ... The Rays optioned RHP Jacob Faria to Triple-A Durham and activated OF Peter Bourjos (tennis elbow) off the 10-day DL before Thursday's game. ... White Sox RHP Jake Petricka made his third relief appearance on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday.