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Rays go for sweep of White Sox

Aug 24, 2008 - 6:42 AM Tampa Bay (79-49) at Chi White Sox (73-55) 2:05 p.m. EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Tampa Bay Rays appear as if nothing can stop them in their quest to reach the playoffs for the first time.

The Rays will be gunning for a sweep when they face the Chicago White Sox in the finale of a three-game series on Sunday.

Playing without arguably their two best offensive players in left fielder Carl Crawford and third baseman Evan Longoria as well as closer Troy Percival, Tampa Bay keeps finding ways to win.

On Saturday, Javier Vazquez took a perfect game into the sixth inning but the Rays refused to quit, scratching out a run in the sixth and adding four in the eighth to earn a 5-3 victory.

The win opened their lead in the American League East to 5 1/2 games over the Boston Red Sox (74-55) and improved their road record to 32-31. Tampa Bay has won 15 of 20 games this month.

With the setback, the White Sox remained one-half game behind the Minnesota Twins (74-55) in the AL Central.

Andy Sonnanstine (13-6, 4.37 ERA) will take the mound for the Rays in search of his 14th win. The righthander has been sharp, going 3-0 with a 2.92 ERA over his last four outings.

He did not factor in the decision in his lone start against Chicago this season, allowing three runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings on June 1. A win would tie him for the franchise record for wins in a season with Rolando Arrojo's 1998 campaign.

The White Sox will counter with lefthander Mark Buehrle (11-10, 3.91). The veteran has picked up the win in each of his last three starts. He allowed three runs in six innings while opposing Sonnanstine.