[Moriarty9]

Devil Rays take ALDS lead
Tampa Bay scores early, holds on for win
October 7, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays took a 2-1 lead in the American League Division Series with a 7-5 win over the Chicago White Sox at Tropicana Field.

The White Sox jumped out to a quick lead by scoring two runs in the top of the first inning, as Johnny Estrada hit a RBI triple and Cliff Floyd followed with a RBI single.

That lead was short-lived, however, as Erubiel Durazo belted a three-run home run to give the Devil Rays a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

Tampa Bay padded that lead in the second inning, due in part to a lack of control by Chicago starting pitcher Jason Bere. Aubrey Huff opened the inning with a four-pitch walk and later scored on an Adam Kennedy double. A few batters later, with the bases loaded and one out, Bere walked Garret Anderson, his third walk of the inning, to push Charles Johnson across the plate.

Ugueth Urbina was brought in after the walk, but Paul Konerko greeted him with a two-run single, making it a four-run inning and giving a 7-2 lead for the Devil Rays.

Bere's final pitching line was seven runs, all earned, on six hits and three walks with no strikeouts in just 1 1/3 innings of work.

Tampa Bay starter Livan Hernandez finished up his night after seven innings. In the seventh, the White Sox pulled closer to the Devil Rays with a Frank Thomas two-run home run and a RBI single by Estrada, making it 7-5.

Southpaw reliever Gabe White worked a scoreless eighth inning for Tampa Bay, followed by a scoreless ninth for the save.