By: John Mamola

David Price sets a new career high earning his 20^th win of the season becoming the first Rays pitcher to win 20 games as the Rays take three of four from the Chicago White Sox with a 6-2 win on Sunday afternoon.  For Price, if this is his last start of the regular season, he’ll end his season setting career highs in wins (20) and ERA (2.54) in his 31^st start of the season.

The Rays offense backed up Price’s second attempt at gaining a 20^th win of the season in the very first inning.  Following a lead off triple by Desmond Jennings, BJ Upton blasted a two run home run into the left field stands making it 2-0 Rays. 

Ryan Roberts added to the Rays lead in the fourth inning with a solo home run to make it 3-0 Rays.

Price ran into some trouble in the White Sox half of the fourth inning.  Kevin Youkilis and Paul Konerko each hit a single to place runner on the corners with one out.  Alex Rios’ RBI single got the White Sox on the board to make it 3-1 Rays.  Dayan Viciedo knocked in another on a sacrifice fly to cut the Rays lead to 3-2. 

That’s all the offense the White Sox would muster against Price who ended his night retiring nine out of the last ten batters he faced.  Price finished the game pitching seven innings allowing two runs on five hits with four strikeouts.

The Rays offense added to their lead in the fifth inning on an Evan Longoria RBI double to make it 4-2 Rays.  Ben Francisco added another run on a sacrifice fly of his own to make it 5-2 Tampa Bay.

BJ Upton launched his second home run of the afternoon in the top of the ninth inning to give the Rays a 6-2 lead.  Of Upton’s 28 home runs this season, he’s hit 12 of them in the month of September.

Fernando Rodney closed out the game in the ninth but did not earn a save.  Rodney needs only to pitch another 1/3 of a scoreless inning more to set a new major league record for lowest ERA by a reliever in a season.  Dennis Eckersley set the record with 0.61 in 1990, currently Rodney’s ERA is listed at 0.62.

The Rays will close out the regular season with a three game series against the Baltimore Orioles beginning Monday night.  The Rays still have a shot at the postseason even though they still sit at 2.5 games out of a wild card spot.  The Rays will send Alex Cobb against Wei-Yin-Chen.  Catch all the action on 620am WDAE beginning at 7:00pm.