Slugging Abreu, White Sox resume set with Rays

(SportsNetwork.com) - Jose Abreu looks to add to his April home run total on Saturday night in the second installment of a four-game series between the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.

The White Sox slugger homered twice in Friday's 9-6 victory, including a walk- off grand slam for his ninth home run of the year. That passed Albert Pujols, Carlos Delgado and Kent Hrbek for the most all-time by a rookie in March and April.

Abreu's homer came after Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria hit a two-run homer off White Sox reliever Mat Lindstrom in the top of the ninth to break a 4-4 tie.

The 27-year-old Abreu finished with three hits and drove in six runs as Chicago won for the fourth time in six games.

"It's impressive," said teammate Adam Eaton of Abreu. "The proof is in the pudding. He works his butt off everyday. He knows what he needs to do to get ready."

Rays starter Chris Archer was tagged for four runs on nine hits over seven- plus innings in the setback, Tampa Bay's third in a row and eighth in the last 11 games.

"We played a really good game (aside from the ninth inning)," said Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon. "We just didn't get the hits that we needed to."

The Rays' next challenge is trying to hand White Sox hurler John Danks his first loss of the season.

Danks has allowed two runs in his last two outings and is coming off a win at Detroit on Monday. The 29-year-old southpaw yielded a single run on six hits and three walks in 6 1/3 innings, moving to 2-0 on the year with a 2.84 earned run average.

Danks has made 10 prior starts versus the Rays and is just above .500 at 5-4 with a 3.90 ERA.

Left-hander Cesar Ramos will make his third start of the season for the Rays after shifting from the bullpen due to injuries.

Ramos lasted just two innings in a loss at Cincinnati on April 13, charged with four runs. However, he managed to get through five frames on Sunday versus the New York Yankees, scattering a run on four hits and a walk in a no- decision.

The 29-year-old is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in six total appearances on the season and will make his first ever start versus the White Sox. He has faced them six times in relief with limited success, posting a 7.71 ERA without a decision.

The Rays won the final five of their seven meetings with the White Sox last season, splitting four encounters in Chicago.