Rays' playoff debut a hit

Rookie Longoria carries team with two home runs in tense Game 1 victory over White Sox

Alds

Rays 6, White Sox 4

Said Pierzynski, who was jogging from first base to the dugout: "I just heard jawing. You guys will have to blame someone else this time."

That ended the White Sox's best chance at a comeback. Konerko's homer came when he led off the ninth before Dan Wheeler retired the final three batters.

Aside from the homers, the only other positive development that might play a bigger role should Chicago rally is the pitching of rookie left-hander Clayton Richard. He relieved Vazquez and threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out five. The Rays were only 25-24 in games against left-handed starters during the regular season, and the White Sox will start left-handers Mark Buehrle and John Danks in the next two games.

"We have to win [today]," Guillen said. "You know what I mean? It's not a do-or-die thing, but I'd rather go home with one win than go against the wall. But this ballclub was against the wall a lot of times, and we pulled it out."

Tampa Bay slugger Carlos Pena left after the second inning with slightly blurred vision in his left eye. The Rays said he accidentally scratched his eye at home and was expected to return to play today.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.