MLB:Tampa Bay 3, Chi. White Sox 2

CHICAGO, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Evan Longoria's one-out homer in the ninth inning Thursday lifted Tampa Bay to a 3-2 victory over the reeling Chicago White Sox.

Chicago lost its third in a row and fell two games behind Detroit in the race for the American League Central title. The Rays trail Oakland by 1 1/2 games for the league's second wild card berth.

The game had been deadlocked at 2-2 since the fifth when Longoria came up in the ninth against reliever Brett Myers (3-8). Longoria launched a 2-1 pitch over the wall in left for his 14th homer.

Fernando Rodney came on in the bottom half of the ninth and survived a one-out single to claim his 46th save. The win went to Joel Peralta (2-6), who gave up a hit and struck out one in the eighth.