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White Sox take the series in Anaheim, keep their foot on the gas (44-33)

Chicago left Angel Stadium with exactly what it needed: a series win, a little edge, and a reminder that this team’s identity travels.

After dropping the opener 5-4 in a frustrating, one-run gut-punch, the White Sox answered with back-to-back wins (3-1 Saturday, 8-4 Sunday) to take two of three from the Angels — and push the standings gap wider: Chicago 44-33, L.A. 37-43.

Game 1 (Fri, 6/26): Angels 5, White Sox 4

The opener was the kind of game that feels like it’s there… until it isn’t.

Jonathan Cannon battled, but a crooked 5th inning flipped the script, and the Sox spent the rest of the night trying to claw uphill. They nearly pulled it off in the 9th, pushing across a run and putting real pressure on the Angels at the finish — but a rally-killing double play (and one last strikeout with the tying run still in play) slammed the door.

Samuel Zavala was the sparkplug and earned Player of the Game honors, driving in key runs to keep Chicago within striking distance.

Game 2 (Sat, 6/27): White Sox 3, Angels 1

This was a clean “traveling contender” win: pitch, defend enough, scratch runs, and hand the ball to the bullpen with a lead.

Grant Taylor set the tone with 5.1 scoreless innings and a pile of traffic he refused to let turn into damage. Chicago did its scoring damage in measured bursts, stacking quality at-bats and forcing the Angels into mistakes.

The only late drama: Taylor Ward tagged a solo shot in the 9th to spoil the shutout, but Edwin Díaz finished the job anyway. Chicago walked out with the win — and momentum.

Game 3 (Sun, 6/28): White Sox 8, Angels 4

Sunday looked like a team that remembered it’s fast, dangerous, and deep.

Chicago struck early, kept adding, and never let the Angels breathe. The inning that broke it open came in the 4th, highlighted by a two-run blast from Edgar Quero that felt like a sledgehammer. From there it turned into a runway: tack-on runs, constant pressure, and enough traffic on the bases that L.A. was always one pitch away from another mess.

Luis Robert Jr. was the headliner (Player of the Game) — scoring early, delivering run-scoring contact later, and generally living in the middle of every important sequence. Shane Smith handled the bulk with a steady start, and Chicago’s arms covered the rest.

One notable wrinkle: the Angels lost Taylor Ward, who was injured while throwing the ball — an ugly moment in an otherwise crisp Sunday for Chicago.

Series themes: speed + pressure + late response

Even with the opener slipping away, the White Sox controlled the series’ tone:

They won 2 of 3 and outscored L.A. 15–10 across the set.

The offense consistently created chaos — not just with hits, but with aggressive baserunning and forcing rushed plays.

The pitching staff bounced back immediately after Friday, allowing just 5 total runs over the final two games.

News/Transactions (June 29)

Top prospect 2B Johnny Ashbaugh was promoted to AA Birmingham — a big developmental checkpoint for a 19-year-old who’s hit his way into the next test.