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White Sox closer Seranthony Dom\u00ednguez hands the ball to manager Will Venable as he is pulled from the game in the ninth inning on April 16, 2026, at Rate Field. (Michael Reaves\/Getty)<\/p>\nThe Chicago White Sox squandered a late lead, suffering a 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday in front of 10,128 at Rate Field.<\/p>\n
The Sox entered the ninth ahead by one run. But the Rays scored three times in the inning on the way to sweeping the Sox (6-13).<\/p>\n
Junior Caminero hit a tying home run leading off the ninth against Sox closer Seranthony Dom\u00ednguez. Hunter Feduccia and Taylor Walls drew bases-loaded walks against reliever Lucas Sims.<\/p>\n
Here are three takeaways from Rate Field.<\/p>\n
1. It was a tough ninth inning for the Sox bullpen.
\nWhite Sox closer Seranthony Dom\u00ednguez hands the ball to manager Will Venable as he is pulled from the game in the ninth inning on April 16, 2026, at Rate Field. (Michael Reaves\/Getty)<\/p>\n
Dom\u00ednguez found trouble right away against Caminero, beginning the at-bat with three straight balls. He got a sinker off the plate for a called strike and then went back to the pitch again. Caminero connected for the solo home run that just got over the left-field wall.<\/p>\n
Dom\u00ednguez struck out Cedric Mullins, but the Rays then loaded the bases with a single, a walk and a batter getting hit by a pitch.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s one of those where he didn\u2019t have his best stuff,\u201d Sox manager Will Venable said. \u201cHe wasn\u2019t able to command the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sims entered and struck out Jake Fraley looking on a pitch that initially was called a ball on a 3-2 count but was overturned to a strike on a challenge. But Feduccia walked, giving the Rays a 4-3 lead. And Walls followed with another walk, extending the lead.<\/p>\n
Those runs were charged to Dom\u00ednguez, who suffered his second blown save of the season while falling to 1-2.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery time I come in, I just try to do my thing,\u201d Dom\u00ednguez said, \u201cand unfortunately I didn\u2019t do my job today, but I have to do it next time.\u201d<\/p>\n
2. The Sox made the most of their ABS challenges.<\/p>\n
The Rays had a chance for a potential big inning earlier in the game, loading the bases with two outs in the third.<\/p>\n
Sox pitcher Anthony Kay, who followed opener Jordan Leasure, fell behind in the count 2-0 to Yandy D\u00edaz. The next pitch was initially called a ball. Catcher Edgar Quero challenged, and it was overturned to a strike.<\/p>\n
The following pitch again was called a ball. Quero challenged, and again it was overturned to a strike. With a 2-2 count, Kay got D\u00edaz to pop out to end the inning.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was huge, especially with the bases loaded,\u201d Kay said.<\/p>\n
Quero said part of his strategy when challenging includes, \u201crecognize the zone, recognize where I am in the box behind the plate. And at the same time, trying to be a little bit lucky with the pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Quero was also helpful at the plate with an RBI double in the sixth that at the time gave the Sox a 2-1 lead. It was his first extra-base hit and first RBI of the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI finally got my first RBI,\u201d Quero said. \u201cI can help the team a little bit and keep doing my stuff and get better to keep helping the team.\u201d<\/p>\n
3. Everson Pereira \u2018feeling good at the plate\u2019 while contributing against his former team.
\n![\"White](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/CTC-Z-SOX-RAYS_ae42d1.jpg\")
White Sox right fielder Everson Pereira hits a home run against the Rays in the eighth inning on April 16, 2026, at Rate Field. (Michael Reaves\/Getty)<\/p>\n
The Sox acquired Pereira as part of an offseason trade with the Rays<\/a>. The outfielder returned from the injured list (left ankle sprain)<\/a> Tuesday and hit a three-run home run in the third inning of the 8-5 loss in the series opener.<\/p>\n Pereira connected for a solo home run in the eighth inning Wednesday, putting the Sox briefly ahead 3-2. Pereira went 2-for-3 with a walk in the game.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m feeling good at home plate too,\u201d Pereira said through an interpreter. \u201cI\u2019m just trying to help the team.\u201d<\/p>\n Pereira appeared in 23 games with the Rays last season. He said playing against them for the first time \u201cwas the same as any other team. A different team and we\u2019re just trying to beat them.\u201d<\/p>\n