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White Sox @ Mariners — Series Recap (July 13–15, 2026)

Seattle didn’t just win the series — the Mariners took the whole thing. The White Sox walked into T-Mobile Park at 51–38 and walked out 51–41, watching Seattle climb to 46–47 by winning all three in a row.

Chicago’s offense never fully found oxygen: 6 total runs in 3 games, and it felt like every rally needed three straight good things to happen… and Seattle kept cutting the cord before that third thing arrived.

Game 1 — Mariners 4, White Sox 2 (Mon, July 13)

This one turned into a grind, then a shove.

George Kirby set the tone early and kept the Sox chasing.

Seattle built a 4–0 lead with consistent traffic (including a big two-run 5th).

Chicago’s pushback came in flashes:

Luis Robert Jr. launched a solo HR (No. 14) to finally crack the scoreboard in the 6th.

An 8th-inning sequence (including pressure on the bases) led to a Colson Montgomery RBI single to make it 4–2.

But the Sox couldn’t land the knockout inning — and two Chicago errors in the field didn’t help in a two-run game.

Final feel: a winnable game that slipped when Seattle cashed in their mid-game chances and Chicago didn’t.

Game 2 — Mariners 2, White Sox 1 (Tue, July 14)

The Sox actually hit in this one — they just didn’t score.

Luis Castillo vs. Grant Taylor had the vibe of October baseball… until one swing changed it.

Seattle’s Jose Caballero tagged Taylor for a two-run homer in the 3rd, and suddenly every Chicago at-bat felt like it needed to be perfect.

The Sox scratched one back in the 6th:

Montgomery got aboard, stole second, and Eguy Rosario delivered a hit that set up Tirso Ornelas’ sac fly (2–1).

Chicago put hits on the board, but rallies kept ending with strikeouts, caught stealings, or a key out with men on.

Final feel: the box score says “1 run,” but it felt like Chicago left multiple runs on the runway.

Game 3 — Mariners 5, White Sox 3 (Wed, July 15)

Chicago finally landed a first punch… and Seattle answered with five.

The Sox jumped ahead in the 2nd:

Edgar Quero singled, then Wilfred Veras crushed a two-run HR (No. 7) for a 2–0 lead.

Then Cal Raleigh turned into the series villain:

RBI early, then a solo HR (No. 23) to tie it, and Seattle kept stacking pressure from there.

Chicago had to dip into arms (including Drew Thorpe in relief again), and late:

Hunter Barco made his MLB debut out of the bullpen, then (after the series) was sent back to AAA.

Final feel: Chicago’s early spark was real — Seattle’s response was louder, steadier, and relentless.

Series themes (why Seattle swept it)

1) Seattle got the “big swing” moments.
Caballero’s two-run shot, Raleigh’s impact, and timely hits were the separator in three close-ish games.

2) Chicago’s offense lived on singles… and needed perfect sequencing.
When you’re not living off the long ball, you need clean baserunning + one clutch extra-base hit. Seattle kept denying that combo.

3) Defense/cleanliness mattered.
Over a three-game squeeze like this, extra outs and missed execution turn into runs. The Sox didn’t have margin to waste.

Notable news/transactions coming out encourage

July 12: RP Jason Adam optioned to AAA Charlotte; RP Drew Thorpe recalled.

July 13: SP Noah Schultz optioned to AAA; SP Hunter Barco contract selected (MLB debut from bullpen).

July 16: Trade: White Sox acquire LHP Aaron Bummer (32) from the Mets for RHP Jarold Rosado (24, minors).

Also: Barco optioned back to AAA Charlotte.

What it says: Chicago didn’t love what it saw from the bullpen workload/shape this week — and Bummer is a very “get outs now” move for a first-place team trying to stabilize the late innings.

Where it leaves the White Sox

Chicago is 51–41 and still sitting on top of the AL Central, but the margin is thin — and this Seattle trip was a reminder that even good teams can look ordinary when the timely hit goes missing.

Next up, the Sox head straight into a division test at Minnesota — exactly the kind of series that can either rinse this taste out fast… or make it linger.