Shane McClanahan gets 1st win since June 2023 as Rays beat White Sox

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Apr 14, 2026

Published in Baseball

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CHICAGO — In colorfully discussing the frustrations of his two-seasons-plus injury absence and the first two starts of his comeback this season, Shane McClanahan has dwelled on an overarching theme: that he wanted to win.

Tuesday, despite a somewhat untidy performance, he did just that, working the first five innings of the American League East-leading Rays’ 8-5 victory over the White Sox.

McClanahan’s last win came on June 16, 2023, at San Diego, a mere 1,033 days ago.

Wander Franco and Randy Arozarena were in the Tampa Bay lineup. Juan Soto, Nelson Cruz and Ha-Seong Kim played for the Padres. The Rays were headed to a fifth straight playoff appearance.

A lot has happened since.

That includes McClanahan injuring his elbow later that August, having a second Tommy John surgery, completing his rehab, being sidelined in final spring 2025 tuneup for an opening-day start by an odd nerve issues and missing another entire season.

McClanahan wasn’t the dominant two-time All-Star of the past on Tuesday, but good enough. He gave up three runs (two earned), allowing two hits (one a three-run homer), walking four and striking out four. He threw 83 pitches, just over half (49) for strikes.

McClanahan got some help, as the Rays extended their winning streak to four and, at 9-7, moved two games over .500 for the first time since July 25.

Ben Williamson knocked in three runs, Ryan Vilade rapped a career-high three hits and scored three runs, and Sox debuting rookie Noah Schultz had a messy first inning, allowing the Rays to take a 3-0 lead.

Schultz is a 6-foot-10, hard-throwing 22-year-old lefty, and the Rays took advantage of his nerves.

Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero drew back-to-back one-out walks, then Vilade doubled in the first run. Williamson then pushed a bunt to the right side of the mound that Schultz fielded and threw wildly past home, allowing both runners to score.

The Rays extended the lead to 4-0 in the third when, after Caminero was caught breaking for third, Williamson doubled in Vilade, who had singled.

McClanahan navigated the first inning after allowing back-to-back one-out walks and dodged lesser trouble in the second.

But he let the Sox back in the game in the home third, which started with a scare. Chandler Simpson made a diving catch for the first out and looked to be in severe pain, but he was checked out and stayed in.

A catcher’s interference by Nick Fortes and McClanahan’s fourth walk in an 11-batter span put two on, then Everson Pereira, who was briefly a Rays late last season, hit a three-run homer.

Fortunately for McClanahan, the Rays added on two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to expand the lead. Ex-White Sox pitcher Yoendrys Gomez gave up a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth.