\u201cIt\u2019s always great to win these types of games,\u201d infielder Miguel Vargas said.<\/p>\n
The Sox maintained a three-game lead in the division over the second-place Cleveland Guardians (57-56), who topped the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The first inning set the tone on Sunday for the Sox.<\/p>\n
![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ctc-White-Sox-Rays-Baseball_265305369.jpg\")
Chicago White Sox’s Andrew Benintendi, left, runs to first base on a fielding error by Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Griffin Jax, right, during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo\/Jason Behnken)<\/p>\n
After reaching on the error, Antonacci advanced to third on a two-out double by Colson Montgomery. Andrew Benintendi then tapped a grounder back to the mound, which pitcher Griffin Jax bobbled. Jax recovered, but his throw to first was late. Benintendi reached, and Antonacci scored on the error.<\/p>\n
Then with Tristan Peters batting, Jax bounced a pitch to the plate. Benintendi took off, but slowed as he neared second base<\/a> when catcher Nick Fortes\u2019 throw arrived. Rays shortstop Ben Williamson hesitated between going after Benintendi or throwing home when Montgomery started heading to the plate. Benintendi eluded him and Montgomery scored, giving the Sox a 2-0 lead.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was huge,\u201d Sox manager Will Venable said. \u201cTo get two runs early is obviously a nice way to start the game. And really, because of those two errors, right? Those were two tough plays for them, where obviously they\u2019re such a good defensive team that they usually make those. But a good job by our guys to take advantage of it.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re just a really competitive group. When you compete, take advantage of those opportunities, obviously that\u2019s a path to winning. We talk about continuing to battle and grind every at-bat and these guys do a great job.\u201d<\/p>\n Benintendi contributed to the offense in a more traditional way in the fourth inning, hitting a solo home run.<\/p>\n Everson Pereira drove in two with a double in the sixth inning against reliever Craig Kimbrel, stretching the lead to 5-0. He added a two-run home run in the ninth against reliever Alex Cook.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought it was really cool today to see (Pereira) who wasn\u2019t even (originally) in the lineup and made that late lineup change (scratching right fielder Braden Montgomery because of a superficial skin infection on his right ankle), and had a big day. It was really a difference for us.<\/p>\n \u201cYou think about his season and ups and downs, obviously dealing with his injuries (left ankle sprain and right pectoral strain) and the concussion<\/a>. It\u2019s been a lot for him, so really nice to see him kind of get calibrated here and make good swing decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n Pereira added through an interpreter, \u201cIt hasn\u2019t been an easy year. A lot of ups and downs. But you know what, there\u2019s nothing I can do about it. Now I just focus on what I can do and all the things that we have ahead of us.\u201d<\/p>\n Vargas also hit a two-run home run in the ninth against reliever Chris Roycroft.<\/p>\n Sox starter Anthony Kay was terrific in the win, scattering seven hits in a career-high 6 1\/3 innings. He struck out three and walked one.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was good to go out there and get some length,\u201d Kay said. \u201cI wanted to all year and it was good to just be able to be out there.\u201d<\/p>\n Kay worked out of bases-loaded situations in the fourth and sixth while improving to 8-5.<\/p>\n \u201cHe had everything working,\u201d Venable said. \u201cReally great to see for a guy to work around some trouble there and really do a nice job.\u201d<\/p>\n And the Sox continue to play well against some of the top teams in the AL East. After splitting four games against the Yankees<\/a>, they won a series against the Rays (65-46), who have the best mark in the AL. The Sox limited Tampa Bay to three runs in the series.<\/p>\n \u201cAny time you can win a series, it\u2019s really good,\u201d Kay said. \u201cTaking two out of four from the Yankees and then two out of three from here, it shows where we\u2019re at in the league.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ctc-White-Sox-Rays-Baseball_265308107.jpg\")
Chicago White Sox pitcher Anthony Kay throws during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo\/Jason Behnken)<\/p>\n