CHICAGO -- Over the offseason, Austin Meadows received a call from manager Kevin Cash assuring him that he was going to be a big part of the Rays this season. For a 23-year old who had played just 58 big league games heading into this season, the conversation gave Meadows a lot of confidence heading into 2019.

“Being able to know that I solidified a spot on the team and being able to mentally prepare for a big league season, that’s something that you try and do each and every year,” Meadows said. “For me, from a confidence standpoint, from a mental standpoint, just being ready to go, I’m definitely looking forward to helping the team win this year.”

Meadows certainly helped the Rays do just that on Tuesday, recording a career-high four hits, including a two-run home run, in a 10-5 win over the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. Through 39 at-bats this season, Meadows is hitting .308 with three home runs and 10 RBIs.

“He’s got the ability to do everything well,” said Cash, whose team will go for a three-game sweep of the series on Wednesday. “He’s got a chance to be a pretty special player with this opportunity that he’s earned to get going here in the lineup and be a big part of our group.”

Meadows continues to do a good job hitting in the leadoff spot. On Tuesday, the outfielder led off the game with a single, stole second base and came around to score on a Brandon Lowe sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead. In the second inning, after Avisail Garcia’s solo home run against his former team, Meadows continued to do damage, blasting a two-run homer off Ervin Santana to make it 4-0.

“I love it,” Meadows said, when asked about hitting leadoff. “Being able to set the tone early for the team is something that I haven’t done much of in the past, but I’m comfortable up there. Being able to be aggressive and help the team early.”

It’s often difficult to get much emotion out of Meadows, who is pretty even-keeled on the field, but a career high in hits is definitely something that brings out excitement.

“It was a good day,” Meadows said. “Being able to get four hits today is something you strive for. Really every day, you try and go up there and get a couple of hits, get two or three hits. But to be able to get four is definitely cool, so I’m excited. I put myself in a good position today to be able to do that, so things went my way today.”

Where does this game rank in Meadows’ short big league career?

“It’s up there for sure,” he smiled.

Avi homers against old club

Garcia, who spent six seasons with the White Sox and was let go at the end of the 2018 season, clubbed a solo home run in the second inning off Santana. Garcia admitted that he had a lot of emotions as he rounded the bases as a visiting player.

“It’s special,” Garcia said. “A lot of feelings. A lot of feelings. Just happy to get my first home run of the season and happy for my team. We won another game, and let’s see what happens tomorrow.”

Bullpen has some struggles

Wilmer Font, who came on to replace starter Charlie Morton, was effective in the sixth and seventh innings, but he ran into some trouble in the eighth. Font gave up two runs and struck out three in 2 2/3 innings. Morton picked up his second win of the season after striking out seven and giving up two runs in five innings.

“[Font] did a good job. He really picked us up,” Cash said. “It’s good to see him get out there and get his pitch count, I think he got close to mid-50s, maybe a tick higher than what we would like, but the velo was good. We needed to get to the end of the game and he got us pretty close.”

Font was relieved by Ryne Stanek, who was unable to record an out in the inning, allowing two singles and a walk before he was relieved by Jose Alvarado. With Jose Rondon representing the potential tying run at the plate, Alvarado walked Rondon to cut the lead to 8-5. The left-hander, however, was able to get Adam Engel, who represented the potential winning run, swinging to end the threat.

“Not their sharpest, but it’s going to happen sometimes,” Cash said. “But good thing that our offense really showed up and gave us the cushion to allow that. If you’re gonna have a hiccup, I guess you’d rather have it with a six-run lead.”

The win also gave the Rays their fourth consecutive series win to start the season, which is a first in franchise history.