Franklin powers Rays to 3-1 win over White Sox

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Nick Franklin knew it was fair, so the brief pause for his first home run with Tampa Bay was no problem.

Franklin connected for a two-run shot in the second inning, leading Chris Archer and the Rays to a 3-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday night.

Franklin's drive to right against Hector Noesi came after a leadoff double by James Loney. The home run was held up by a 79-second replay review while umpires checked to see if the towering shot had stayed fair after hitting a catwalk above the right-field corner at Tropicana Field.

"I knew it was fair right away. It just happened to stay straight, hit off the top of the ring," Franklin said. "I knew right away they couldn't change it. I mean, it was 15 or 20 feet fair."

Archer pitched scoreless ball into the seventh inning, but the Rays were unable to complete a major league-leading 22nd shutout.

Marcus Semien's pinch-hit single off Jake McGee in the ninth, Chicago's only hit after the fourth, drove in the only run for the White Sox. McGee finished the inning for his 18th save.

Archer (10-8) allowed two hits and walked four in 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 1.83 ERA in his last three starts.

"I think Archer was just so good we didn't get anything going," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "He throws it hard, he's got a breaker."

Rays manager Joe Maddon also was impressed, and Archer felt it was one of his better outings.

"It's definitely up there," Archer said. "I really wish I could have gone deeper into the game, but we played great defense and that just gives you confidence to keep filling up the strike zone. It was one of those nights where things were going my way."

Franklin was acquired from Seattle in the three-team trade that sent David Price to Detroit on July 31. He was playing in his fourth game for the Rays, having been recalled from Triple-A Durham on Monday.

"I don't consider myself a home run hitter ... but I'll get one every now and then," Franklin said.

It was his first homer since Aug. 29, 2013, with Seattle.

Ben Zobrist had two hits and an RBI for Tampa Bay, which was eliminated from playoff contention Friday night.

Noesi (8-10) gave up three runs and six hits in six innings. He is winless in four September starts.

TRAINER'S ROOM

White Sox: 1B Paul Konerko flew out as a pinch hitter in the ninth after going 0 for 4 Friday night in his first game since breaking his left hand Sept. 2. Konerko, who is retiring after the season, probably will be in the lineup Sunday, according to Ventura.

Rays: RHP Brad Boxberger could rejoin the team Sunday following the birth of his daughter Thursday. ... INF Sean Rodriguez (death in family) missed his second straight game.

UP NEXT

RHP Nathan Karns (1-0) is scheduled to start the Rays' home finale Sunday against White Sox LHP John Danks (9-11). Karns allowed two hits over seven scoreless innings in his first start of the season Sept. 12 at Toronto, while Danks is 0-2 with a 5.73 ERA over his last four road starts.

MARVIN'S MASK

Plate umpire Marvin Hudson took a hard foul by Chicago's Dayan Viciedo off the mask in the ninth, but stayed in the game after being checked out by a trainer. The trainer also looked at Hudson after the game.