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White Sox vs. Padres (Sept. 19–21, Rate Field) — a spoiler series with one all-timer ending

One day after the “officially eliminated” stamp hit the timeline (Sept. 18), the White Sox came out and played like a team that refused to go quietly. Against a Padres club still scrapping for October (you had them at 80–77 by series end), Chicago took 2 of 3 and walked away at 70–86 with a weekend that somehow contained: a blowout, a bullpen gut-check, and a ninth-inning comeback that belongs in the “remember that one?” file forever.

Game 1 — Fri 9/19: White Sox 10, Padres 1

Statement win. Immediate. Loud.

San Diego struck first in the 1st, and that was basically the end of their fun. Chicago detonated the game with a three-run 3rd highlighted by Miguel Vargas’ 3-run homer (and he piled on to finish with 4 RBI). From there it was wave after wave—traffic, pressure, and timely damage.

On the mound, Davis Martin delivered exactly what you want in a “we’re still here” spot: 6 strong innings, just 1 run, and the Padres never found a second gear. Jarold Rosado and Tyler Schweitzer cleaned up the rest, though the night came with a cost: Rosado left injured while pitching.

Tone-setters: Vargas (big-time damage), and Martin (calm, efficient, in control).

Game 2 — Sat 9/20: White Sox 9, Padres 8

The walk-off that felt like it took an entire season’s worth of chaos and squeezed it into one inning.

This one was a full roller coaster. Chicago grabbed an early edge, the Padres punched back hard (including a 4-run 4th), and by the time the 9th rolled around San Diego had pushed it to 8–5.

Then the bottom of the 9th happened.

Ornelas gets it started (and he was a monster all day: 4-for-5, 4 RBI, plus chaos on the bases).

The Sox keep stacking chances, and with two outs:

Edgar Quero triples to blow the doors open (a 2-RBI triple to make it a one-run game).

Chase Meidroth doubles to tie it.

San Diego goes to Aroldis Chapman… and Luis Robert Jr. answers with the walk-off single.

That’s a straight-up crowd-stealer. The kind of inning that makes a lost season feel alive for a night.

Also worth noting: the day wasn’t clean physically—Jake Cronenworth left after being hit by a pitch, and Meidroth was injured running the bases (brutal, especially with how big he was in the ending).

Moment of the series: Quero triple → Meidroth double → Robert walk-off. Unreal sequence.

Game 3 — Sun 9/21: Padres 5, White Sox 2

San Diego finally steadied the ship—and Chicago ran out of late magic.

The Sox had chances (walks, a little traffic), but Cade Cavalli kept slipping out of trouble and the Padres’ arms held the middle innings in check.

Chicago’s scoring came from:

Tirso Ornelas driving in a run (again… he was everywhere this series), and

Edgar Quero’s solo HR in the 8th to give a pulse late.

The turning point was San Diego’s three-run 7th, built the hard way—walks, pressure, and then Manny Machado + Jackson Merrill delivering the big swings to break it open.

Padres also took an injury here too: Trevor Richards left hurt while pitching.

Series takeaways (the vibes + the facts)

Tirso Ornelas was the engine. He set the tone all weekend—hits, RBI, speed, and constant pressure.

Luis Robert Jr. owned the headline. A 4-hit day in Game 2 capped by the walk-off is as signature as it gets.

Edgar Quero delivered in big moments. The triple in the comeback and the HR in the finale—he showed up when the game was screaming.

Pitching snapshot: Davis Martin gave you the cleanest “win it” start of the series; the rest was a grind (and the bullpen had to wear some chaos), but you still walked out with the series.