A crazy, off-its-orbit game returned to normal after about three innings Tuesday night. Reliable relief pitching can do that.
Carlos Castillo served up a game-tying home run to Mike Kelly in the third inning but didn’t allow another hit in a three-inning stint that set the tone for the White Sox bullpen. Home runs by Albert Belle–his 16th in 25 games since the All-Star break–and Greg Norton helped the Sox hold on to an 8-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays before 24,866 at Tropicana Field.
Catcher Robert Machado hit a three-run homer (his first career home run) off starter Tony Saunders (3-10) as the Sox improved their record to 3-2 on the trip. A victory by rookie John Snyder Wednesday night would give them their first sweep of a three-game series on the road since they beat Kansas City in the first four games after the All-Star break last year.
Castillo (5-4), Chad Bradford, Bob Howry and Bill Simas combined to allow two runs and three hits in seven innings.
Simas, who entered with two outs and the tying run on second in the eighth inning, earned his 11th save.The performance by this right-handed tag team was the latest sign the Sox might end this season with the best bullpen they’ve had since 1994. The relievers have compiled a 3.39 earned-run average in the second half.
Ten of the game’s 14 runs were scored in the first three innings.
The action in the early innings included Tampa Bay’s Fred McGriff scoring from second when starter Jim Parque and Machado headed to the dugout after two outs; Machado picking Bobby Smith off first base and Belle avoiding a tag by sliding far short of second base.
“For a while, I thought we were in extended spring training,” Devil Rays manager Larry Rothschild said.
“For the first three innings, this was not a game you usually see at this level.”
Simas & Co. salvaged it.
