In St. Petersburg, Florida, Noah Schultz displayed a strong pitching performance. Schultz struck out Victor Mesa Jr., ending the sixth inning with energy. Entering in the second inning as a bulk pitcher, he allowed only one run over five innings. However, the Chicago White Sox’s offense struggled, leading to a 1-0 loss against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field with 23,309 attendees.
Schultz gave up three hits, struck out four batters, and did not walk anyone. He followed Jordan Hicks, who had retired the side in the first inning. Schultz commented on his efficiency, noting the significance of throwing strikes and staying ahead of hitters. The collaboration with catcher Edgar Quero was crucial, contributing to his effectiveness.
“I thought he was really good with the righties with the sinker glove side, and then used the cutter off of that as well,” said Sox manager Will Venable. “He dominated the inside part of the zone and threw a lot of strikes.”
The only run of the game occurred in the fifth inning. Rays center fielder Jonny DeLuca started with a single and advanced to second on a steal, then third on a grounder. Nick Fortes singled him home with two outs, registering an exit velocity of 70 mph.
The Rays were limited to five hits by four Sox pitchers. These included singles from Yandy Díaz in the fourth, DeLuca and Fortes in the fifth, and Díaz and Chandler Simpson in the eighth. Meanwhile, the Sox were held to five hits as well, facing a shutout for the seventh time in the season.
Among the Sox hitters, Quero had two hits, including a single in the fifth inning that put runners on first and third. Quero advanced to second on a throwing error. However, Sam Antonacci’s hard-hit ball ended up with Mesa for the third out.
“That was kind of our chance tonight,” Venable reflected. Antonacci added, “I’ll get a bloop hit, and I’ll line out hard again. … You can’t feel sorry for yourself,” he said.
Rays starter Drew Rasmussen dominated with ten strikeouts over six scoreless innings. Antonacci noted that his effective pitching disrupted their game plan.
In the ninth inning, Miguel Vargas lined out, and Randal Grichuk hit a foul before striking out, which ended the game against Rays closer Bryan Baker. Venable concluded, “A really well-played game with excellent pitching from both teams.”
**Roch Cholowsky’s Move to Winston-Salem**
Shortstop Roch Cholowsky, the White Sox’s top pick in 2026, will join High A Winston-Salem. Sox director of player development Paul Janish emphasized this move prepares Cholowsky for professional play over multiple games in a week, considering his development trajectory.
**Drew Thorpe’s Rehab Progress**
Pitcher Drew Thorpe, recovering from Tommy John surgery, allowed one hit and recorded five strikeouts in a recent outing with Double-A Birmingham. He is scheduled for a five-inning appearance before advancing to Triple A, having surrendered three runs across eight innings this season. Janish affirmed that all recovery signs are positive.