White Sox Defeat Rays 5-1 Behind Rookies Shane Smith, Colson Montgomery, and Kyle Teel – Game Recap & Highlights (September 11, 2025)

Thursday, September 11th, 2025

Chicago White Sox Defeat Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 Behind Montgomery, Teel, and Smith

The Chicago White Sox secured a 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Guaranteed Rate Field, winning the rubber game of their series with a combination of timely hitting and strong pitching.

White Sox Jump Ahead Early

Chase Meidroth opened the bottom of the first with a single off Tampa Bay starter Ian Seymour. After Curtis Mead followed with a double, Colson Montgomery delivered a one-out single to drive in both runners, giving the White Sox an early 2-0 lead.

Sixth Inning Offense and a Record Streak

Michael A. Taylor added an RBI single in the sixth before Kyle Teel came off the bench and contributed a two-run pinch hit single, pushing Chicago’s advantage to 5-0. Teel's clutch hit not only padded the lead but also extended his on-base streak to 20 games, currently tied for the longest active streak in MLB.

Pitching Dominance by Shane Smith

Rookie Shane Smith (6-7) was outstanding on the mound for the White Sox, working 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Smith allowed just four hits and one walk in his 26th start of the season. Jordan Leasure closed the game for Chicago with a perfect ninth, earning his eighth save.

Rays Struggle Offensively

Tampa Bay was held to one run, which came in the eighth on a Junior Caminero RBI groundout against Tyler Alexander. Seymour (3-2) took the loss, allowing three runs (five hits, two walks) over 5 1/3 innings. Joey Gerber made his first MLB appearance in nearly five years for the Rays, striking out two over two perfect innings.

Team Trends and Records

The Rays have now dropped five of their last six games following a seven-game win streak, moving to a record of 72-74. For the White Sox, now at 57-90, the win highlighted their 9-2 September record, which is currently the best in baseball. Chicago will need to win six of their final 15 games to avoid a third consecutive 100-loss season.

Key Moment

Jordan Leasure's efficient ninth inning locked down the save and helped Chicago continue their impressive September performance.

Key Stat

Kyle Teel's 20-game on-base streak ties him with Bo Bichette of the Toronto Blue Jays for the longest active streak in Major League Baseball.

Up Next

The Tampa Bay Rays open a series against the Chicago Cubs on Friday, with Shane Baz (9-11, 4.94 ERA) set to face Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd (12-8, 2.92 ERA). The White Sox begin a road series in Cleveland, as Martín Pérez (1-4, 3.15 ERA) pitches against Guardians righty Tanner Bibee (9-11, 4.69 ERA).

In summary

The Chicago White Sox capitalized on timely hitting from Colson Montgomery and Kyle Teel, along with dominant pitching by Shane Smith, to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1. Teel’s 20-game on-base streak and the team’s league-leading September record highlight a positive note as Chicago seeks to avoid another 100-loss season. The Rays look to rebound on the road as both teams shift their focus to upcoming series.

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