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White Sox to hold home opener vs. still-winless Rays

Apr 7, 2011 - 2:58 PM (Sports Network) - Maybe a change of scenery is just what the Tampa Bay Rays need.

Today the defending American League East champions take another crack at their first win of the season when they open a four-game series against Chicago in the White Sox' home opener at U.S. Cellular Field.

The Rays opened their year by losing three games to the Baltimore Orioles, then capped a winless homestand by dropping two tests to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, culminating with a 5-1 setback Wednesday at Tropicana Field.

They are the first defending division champ to open a year 0-5 since the 1996 Boston Red Sox.

B.J. Upton's home run accounted for the Tampa offense on Wednesday, while Jeremy Hellickson (0-1) absorbed the loss after he worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits with a pair of walks and a career-high 10 strikeouts.

The loss marked just the Rays' third winless homestand of two or more opponents in franchise history, and the first since the 2000 season. Tampa is now hitting a mere .136.

"We're not swinging the bats bad at all, just nothing's going our way right now," Upton said. "We all want that first win. I think we might be going out there and pressing a bit to get it, but we're fine. I think we've got some guys in here who have dealt with this before."

Hoping to get the Rays on track will be ace left-hander David Price, who was not sharp in losing to the Orioles on Opening Day. A 19-game winner last season, Price was hit for four runs and five hits in seven innings of that one, and struck out seven while walking a batter.

Price has struggled against the White Sox in his career, losing all three of his starts, and has pitched to a 5.00 ERA in those outings.

Chicago, meanwhile, returns home after opening its year with three wins in five road tilts following a thrilling victory Wednesday in Kansas City that saw the White Sox score three times in the 12th inning in a 10-7 triumph.

Tied at 7-7, Carlos Quentin opened the 12th with a double off Sean O'Sullivan (0-1), who stayed on after throwing a 1-2-3 11th inning, and took third on Alexei Ramirez's bunt single. Then with the bases loaded and one out later in the inning, Brent Morel sliced a two-run single to right for a 9-7 lead. Juan Pierre added a sacrifice fly to give the White Sox a three-run cushion heading to the home half.

Chris Sale (1-0), in for his second inning of work, had no problems retiring the Royals in order in the bottom of the 12th to preserve the win.

Quentin went 4-for-6 with a homer, two doubles and three RBI, while Ramon Castro had a solo shot for the White Sox, who rallied for four runs in the top of the ninth inning to take a 7-6 edge before Kansas City tied it up in the bottom half to force extra innings.

"We did a good job fighting," said Morel.

Getting the ball for the White Sox today will be former Ray Edwin Jackson, who beat the Indians in his first start of the year on Saturday. Jackson gave up three runs (two earned) and five hits in six innings of that one. He also fanned seven and walked four in his team's 8-3 win.

Jackson, who won 14 games for the Rays in their 2008 AL championship season, has beaten Tampa Bay both times he has faced them since, pitching to a 1.59 ERA in the process.

Tampa Bay was 4-3 against the White Sox last season.