White Sox Bullpen Struggles as Rays Complete Sweep

Chicago's veteran closer blows save opportunity in ninth inning loss

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:04pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball game broken down into fragmented geometric shapes and planes of bright, clashing colors, conveying the chaos and tension of the White Sox's collapse in the 9th inning.The White Sox bullpen's inability to protect a late lead against the Rays exposes cracks in Chicago's armor as the team looks to climb back into contention.Today in Miami

The Tampa Bay Rays rallied for three runs in the ninth inning to defeat the Chicago White Sox 5-3 and complete a three-game sweep. Chicago's veteran closer Seranthony Dominguez was unable to hold the lead, giving up a game-tying home run and then hitting a batter with the bases loaded to force in the go-ahead run.

Why it matters

The loss is a tough one for the White Sox, who had a chance to win the game but were unable to close it out. The bullpen struggles are a concerning trend for a team that was hoping to compete in the AL Central this season.

The details

With the White Sox leading 3-2 heading into the ninth inning, manager Will Venable turned to Dominguez to try and close out the game. However, Dominguez was unable to find the strike zone, walking the first two batters he faced. He then gave up a game-tying home run to Junior Caminero before hitting Richie Palacios with the bases loaded to force in the go-ahead run for the Rays.

  • The White Sox led 3-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning.
  • Seranthony Dominguez entered the game to try and close it out for the White Sox.

The players

Seranthony Dominguez

A veteran relief pitcher for the Chicago White Sox who was unable to hold the lead in the ninth inning.

Junior Caminero

A Tampa Bay Rays outfielder who hit the game-tying home run off Dominguez in the ninth inning.

Richie Palacios

A Tampa Bay Rays infielder who was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in the go-ahead run for the Rays in the ninth inning.

Will Venable

The manager of the Chicago White Sox who made the decision to bring in Dominguez to try and close out the game.

Edgar Quero

The Chicago White Sox catcher who had a strong defensive game, successfully challenging two calls that helped the team get out of innings.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to close out games like this. Our bullpen has been a strength, but today they let us down when we needed them most.”

— Will Venable, Manager, Chicago White Sox

What’s next

The White Sox will look to bounce back in their next series against the Miami Marlins, hoping to get their bullpen back on track.

The takeaway

The White Sox's inability to hold a late lead is a concerning development, as the team was counting on its veteran bullpen to be a strength this season. They will need to quickly address these issues if they want to remain in contention in the AL Central.