South Side Redemption: Fixing the White Sox One Move at a Time

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White Sox April Recap (2026): Still No. 1, Still in First — and Still Running Wild

The Chicago White Sox didn’t just survive April — they owned it.

When the calendar flipped to May, the Sox were 16–8 (.667), sitting 1st in the AL Central, and still holding the No. 1 spot in the MLB Power Rankings after a month that felt like a full-on identity reveal: pressure on the bases, enough pop to punish mistakes, and a pitching staff that kept games on Chicago’s terms.

The Month in One Sentence

Chicago played .667 baseball with a +30 run differential (121 scored, 91 allowed), building separation in the division while looking like a team that can win in multiple ways — even when the offense isn’t perfect.

The Timeline: From Early Stumble to Full Send

April opened with a punch to the mouth (L, 1–4 at Cleveland on April 2). The response? The Sox turned around and started stacking wins like they were late fees.

Best Stretch

From April 15–21, Chicago ripped off a six-game win streak, capped by a 10–2 thumping in Toronto. That run included:

Taking care of business at home vs Minnesota (2 of 3)

Rolling through Cleveland at Rate Field (three straight wins)

Carrying momentum straight into a winning road trip

The One “Rough Patch”

Late-month road grit showed up in Cincinnati, but the Sox finished that set 2–1 — and then came the Rays series that left a bruise.

Signature Trait: Absolute Mayhem on the Bases

If there’s one thing April made clear: this team runs. Constantly.

Chicago finished April with 77 stolen bases (1st in the AL), led by:

Luis Robert Jr. – 14 SB

Eguy Rosario – 12 SB

Colson Montgomery – 10 SB

Kyle Teel – 10 SB

Even when the bats weren’t lighting the scoreboard up, the Sox kept manufacturing stress: extra bases, rushed throws, bad hops turning into chaos. That pressure was a steady drumbeat all month.

Offense: Balanced Damage, Timely Punches

This wasn’t a lineup bludgeoning teams with pure OPS dominance — it was a group that mixed speed, patience, and situational hits.

April Team Leaders

AVG: Miguel Vargas (.295), Edgar Quero (.286), Colson Montgomery (.261)

HR: Edgar Quero (3), Bryan Ramos (3), Luis Robert Jr. (3)

RBI: Edgar Quero (17), Miguel Vargas (15), Luis Robert Jr. (13)

And it wasn’t just the “top guys.” Chicago got contributions up and down the order — including key extra-base hits and timely swings during that mid-month heater.

Pitching & Run Prevention: The Backbone of April

Chicago’s pitching was the difference between “good start” and “best team in baseball” vibes.

Team ranks (AL):

Runs allowed: 91 (3rd)

Team ERA: 3.59 (4th)

Strikeouts: 187 (3rd)

Defensive efficiency: .720 (3rd)

Standout Arms

Shane Smith: 0.67 ERA (electric early tone-setter)

Jonathan Cannon: 2.16 ERA

Grant Taylor: 29 K, steady workload at the front

Bullpen Headliner

Edwin Díaz: 8 saves, 0.93 ERA — a clean, confident finish to a lot of nights.

Not everything was spotless (there were real bumps in the back half of the rotation), but the bigger picture stayed consistent: Chicago kept opponents from breathing.

Series Spotlight: Tampa Bay at Chicago (April 27–29)

This series felt like a test — and it came with consequences.

Game 1 (April 27): Rays 5, Sox 4

Chicago fought back to tie it, and Bryan Ramos had a monster moment early, but the Sox couldn’t land the knockout in the late innings.

Game 2 (April 28): Sox 4, Rays 1

A “grown-up win.” Shane Smith controlled the pace, and Chicago grabbed momentum with clean pitching and efficient offense.

Game 3 (April 29): Rays 6, Sox 5

A messy, punch-counterpunch finale — and the biggest gut-punch of the month:
Edgar Quero was injured while running the bases.

Chicago nearly chased it down, but the Rays held on, handing the Sox a series loss (1–2) that still couldn’t erase what April looked like overall.

News/Transactions (April 27)

White Sox retained the No. 1 spot in MLB Power Rankings

RP Garrett McDaniels was released and returned to LAD (Rule 5)

RP Tyler Schweitzer recalled from AAA Charlotte

What April Proved — and What May Needs

April proved the White Sox can win with:

speed and pressure,

run prevention,

and clutch swings in pockets of the game.

May’s checklist is simple:

Stabilize the back of the rotation (less early damage, more length).

Clean up the small stuff defensively (the range is there — tighten the execution).

Monitor Quero’s injury because the lineup’s balance looks different without him.

If April was the statement month, May is where the Sox start turning “nice start” into something heavier — something that looks like October.

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Orioles take all 3 at Rate Field as White Sox finish series 16-11

Chicago walked into the weekend with momentum and a chance to put some separation between itself and a Baltimore club that arrived under .500. Three games later, the White Sox were still in a good spot in the standings — but the series had a very specific sting: a blown lead that should’ve been a signature win, followed by two losses where Baltimore dictated the terms.

Game 1 (Fri, May 1): Orioles 10, White Sox 9

This one had everything — including a gut-punch ending.

The White Sox were down 6-2 late, then erupted for a six-run 8th inning that flipped the stadium from anxious to electric. Eguy Rosario launched a two-run homer, Edgar Quero went deep, and Bryan Ramos ripped a two-run double in a rally that put Chicago in front 8-6.

And then the ninth inning happened.

Baltimore answered with four runs — the biggest blow a two-run homer from Jackson Holliday — as the Orioles reclaimed the lead. Chicago got one last jolt when Luis Robert Jr. crushed a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth, but the comeback stopped there.

Also looming over the night: 2B Chase Meidroth left after a collision and the injury ended up shaping the weekend.

Game 2 (Sat, May 2): Orioles 13, White Sox 5

Baltimore didn’t just win Saturday — it snowballed Chicago.

The Orioles jumped out early and then detonated an eight-run 5th inning, turning a competitive game into a track meet the Sox couldn’t keep pace with. Chicago did get homers from Ramos, Tirso Ornelas, and Robert Jr., but the pitching couldn’t find a brake pedal, and the middle innings turned into survival mode.

Game 3 (Sun, May 3): Orioles 5, White Sox 0

The finale was the cleanest and coldest result of the series: Baltimore shut Chicago out.

The White Sox managed only two hits and spent the afternoon trying to piece together rallies through walks and baserunning — but every time something hinted at life, Dean Kremer and the Orioles’ bullpen snuffed it out. Baltimore did all its damage in a five-run 5th, then played from in front without letting the Sox breathe.

Series takeaway

Chicago’s record (16-11) still looks like a contender’s — but this series exposed the two pressure points that can flip a week fast:

Late-game volatility: Friday was a “win-it-and-move-on” game that turned into a “how did that get away?” loss.

Pitching/traffic management: When Baltimore got runners on, it cashed them in. When Chicago did, it too often ran out of hit sequencing.

Roster/health notes

Chase Meidroth: Placed on the 10-day IL with a concussion, expected to miss about two weeks.

Josh Salmonson: Contract selected — the top 1B prospect gets the call after raking in the minors (big OBP/OPS profile).

Mike Small: The top SP prospect was promoted to A+ Winston-Salem.

Up next

Chicago turns the page immediately with a Detroit series on deck — the kind of set that can either wash the taste out fast… or let it linger.

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White Sox vs. Tigers (4 games at Rate Field): Split, statement made — 18–13 Sox, 16–16 Tigers

Chicago didn’t put Detroit away this week — but it did keep the Tigers at arm’s length, splitting a four-game set that felt like a mini-checkpoint for the AL Central race. The White Sox walked out of it still in first, 18–13, with Detroit drifting back to .500 at 16–16.

And the loudest storyline wasn’t just the standings — it was the kids. Edgar Quero kept popping up in the biggest moments, Kyle Teel left his fingerprints late, and newly-called-up Josh Salmonson wasted zero time introducing himself to the majors.

Game 1 (Mon, May 4): White Sox 6, Tigers 5

The night the new guy arrived — and didn’t ask permission.

Chicago struck first, and it came with a jolt: Josh Salmonson (freshly selected to the big-league roster) singled in his first start, then later launched a solo homer to help build a cushion that the Sox would end up needing every inch of.

The headline swing early belonged to Edgar Quero, who crushed a 2-run homer to put Chicago in control. From there it became a tightrope act: Detroit kept swinging back — extra-base hits, loud contact, and late pressure — but the Sox had just enough answers.

On the mound, Shane Smith continued his early-season roll, working 6 strong innings, and Chicago’s bullpen played the final frames like a closing-time routine: holds for Tyler Schweitzer and Jason Adam, then Edwin Díaz slamming the door for the save as Detroit’s last push fizzled.

Vibe of the game: Rookie power + just-enough bullpen = surviving a punchy division rival.

Game 2 (Tue, May 5): Tigers 6, White Sox 3

Detroit drags Chicago into a grind — and wins it.

Chicago had chances all night — and the box score told the story with one number that kept screaming: walks. The Sox got traffic, but not the hit that flips a game.

Detroit, meanwhile, did its damage in bursts and lived in the big moments, taking advantage when Chicago pitching wobbled. Mike Vasil couldn’t quite land the shutdown inning when he needed it, and the Tigers steadily widened the gap.

Even with mistakes and extra outs floating around, Detroit kept control of the middle innings, and Chicago never found the clean rally that would’ve turned Rate Field into a pressure cooker.

Vibe of the game: The Sox had base runners… the Tigers had the big innings.

Game 3 (Wed, May 6): Tigers 10, White Sox 7

A wild one — and Detroit’s veterans win the slugfest.

This game came in waves.

Detroit jumped early, kept piling on, and then — right when Chicago started thinking comeback — the Tigers punched again. The centerpiece was Brandon Belt, who punished mistakes with multiple extra-base blows (including a homer) and drove in key runs that kept Chicago chasing.

Chicago fought, though. Bryan Ramos provided thunder, Quero added another loud moment with a homer, and the Sox made it uncomfortable late — highlighted by a 2-run homer from Luis Robert Jr. in the ninth that turned a “wrap it up” finish into a real sweat.

But it was too much ground to make up. Detroit grabbed the game — and temporarily grabbed the momentum.

Vibe of the game: Chicago’s offense showed real bite… but the early damage was too big.

Game 4 (Thu, May 7): White Sox 5, Tigers 4

The “grown-up win”: tied late, one swing + one chaotic inning, done.

Detroit came out throwing haymakers again: an early 2-run shot gave the Tigers a quick lead, and they kept forcing Chicago to respond.

Then the Sox did exactly that.

Edgar Quero was the anchor all day — extra-base presence early, and then the equalizer: a 2-run homer that yanked Chicago back into control of the night and reset the whole game.

With it tied late, Kyle Teel delivered the moment: a solo homer in the 8th to snap the deadlock. And Chicago didn’t stop there — the inning turned into chaos in the best way: a walk, aggressive baserunning, and a Detroit throwing mistake that let the Sox tack on the kind of insurance run that matters in a one-run finish.

Detroit made it dramatic in the ninth, cutting it to one, but Díaz survived the final surge and locked down the save.

Vibe of the game: Late power, smart pressure, and just enough composure to close.

Series takeaways
1) Edgar Quero is turning into the heartbeat of these games

Big homers, big at-bats, constant involvement. Chicago didn’t just “get production” — it got momentum swings from him.

2) Salmonson’s call-up gave the lineup instant edge

There’s nothing subtle about a rookie showing up and homering in Game 1 of a division series. Even beyond the swing, it changes how pitchers attack the bottom half.

3) Teel looks built for the late innings

The Game 4 homer is the kind of moment that tells you what a player’s made of — not just talent, but timing.

4) The Tigers aren’t going away — but Chicago held the line

A split at home isn’t a knockout… but it’s a reminder: Detroit can make it messy, and the Sox can survive messy. Chicago stays on top of the division and keeps the Tigers in the rearview for now.

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White Sox leave the Bronx with a split vibe: one statement win, two tough lessons

Chicago’s three-game set in New York ended with the kind of record math that looks fine and feels complicated: the White Sox walked out 19-15, just a half-step ahead of the Yankees at 19-16 — but the road trip carried more sting than swagger after a 1-2 series.

They showed they can punch with anybody (Game 1), then watched two winnable games tilt on defense, missed chances, and one brutal Yankee Stadium momentum swing.

Game 1 (May 8): White Sox 8, Yankees 4 — power show + Flaherty’s punchouts

The opener was the “we belong here” game.

Chicago jumped the Yankees early, kept landing haymakers late, and backed Jack Flaherty as he carved up New York with 10 strikeouts in 5 innings.

The innings that told the story:

3-run 3rd to flip the script

Luis Robert Jr. with the loudest moment: a 2-run homer in the 5th that gave Chicago breathing room

Miguel Vargas slammed the door emotionally with a 2-run shot in the 8th to stretch it to 8-3

It wasn’t clean (Yankees homered too), but it was controlled — and it looked like the Sox were ready to take the series by the throat.

Game 2 (May 9): Yankees 5, White Sox 3 — the lead was real… until it wasn’t

Chicago did enough early to win. They just didn’t do enough after.

The Sox blitzed to a 3-0 lead, manufacturing runs with traffic and speed, and they got a solid start from Shane Smith (5 IP, only 1 earned run). But once New York started leaning into the middle innings, the margins got thin.

The turning point was the 7th inning: an error opened the door, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. kicked it down with a 2-run homer that turned a tie game into a 5-3 New York lead.

Chicago had chances — plenty of baserunners, plenty of contact — but the big hit never arrived once the Yankees drew even.

Game 3 (May 10): Yankees 8, White Sox 1 — one bad inning, and it avalanche’d

Sunday turned into the kind of game where you look up and it’s already sideways.

Mike Vasil kept Chicago in it for most of his outing, and the Sox finally scratched their lone run in the 6th on a Colson Montgomery RBI double to make it 2-1.

Then the bottom half hit like a train.

New York exploded for a 4-run 6th, and once that inning started rolling, it never really stopped. The Yankees stacked hits, forced mistakes, and turned every small crack into a full collapse.

The final line was ugly — 14 Yankee hits, and the Sox were again fighting the defensive/cleanup battle on the same day.

Series themes that mattered
1) The defense turned two games into uphill climbs

Chicago committed multiple errors in both losses, and both games had that same rhythm: “hang around, create a chance… give it back.”

2) The offense was boom-or-bust

In the win: 8 runs with multiple homers and a knockout late.
In the losses: 3 and 1, with stretches where the Sox put men on but couldn’t land the finishing shot.

3) Luis Robert Jr. looked like the headline guy

He drove the opener and stayed central to the series storyline — when he’s the one doing damage, Chicago’s lineup looks dangerous fast.

Notable news: Conley brings some sunshine from the system

Even with the Bronx frustration, the organization got a jolt elsewhere: top prospect 2B Dave Conley was named Arizona Complex League Player of the Week after torching pitching with 15 hits in 27 at-bats, 3 homers, 10 RBI, and 13 runs scored.

If you’re looking for a “future is coming” reminder after a rough couple days? That’s it.

Where it leaves them

Chicago’s still in a strong spot at 19-15, and the Yankees aren’t far behind at 19-16 — but this series had a clear message: the Sox can absolutely beat top clubs… and they can also give away air if the defense slips and the offense doesn’t cash in.

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White Sox survive Citi Field gut-check, leave Queens with a split message: the kids can hit — but the margin is thin

The White Sox walked into Queens needing a measuring stick against one of the NL’s best early-season starts. Three games later, they walked out 20–17 — and with a reminder that this club’s floor and ceiling are both being set by the same thing: a young core that’s learning on the fly, sometimes the hard way, and sometimes in a blur of chaos.

New York took the first two behind power and frontline pitching. Chicago took the finale by turning a seven-run deficit into an 11–8 statement, fueled by a five-run seventh inning that felt like it was ripped straight out of a summer pennant race.

The Mets finished the set 23–15. The White Sox left with a series loss — and a pulse.

Game 1 (May 11): Mets 6, White Sox 0 — Senga turns the lineup into silhouettes

This one was over in the quietest, most brutal way: Kodai Senga simply erased Chicago’s night.

The Mets scored two in the first, then waited. Chicago scratched three hits total and struck out 10 times, never really forcing a pivot point. Jonathan Cannon battled for six innings, but a two-run double in the sixth (Davis Schneider) opened the gap, and the eighth inning turned into a highlight reel when Brandon Nimmo and Juan Soto went back-to-back to make it 6–0.

That’s the blueprint when a good team has its ace rolling: early punch, no air, no oxygen.

Game 2 (May 12): Mets 3, White Sox 1 — More thunder from Lindor/Soto, Teel finally cracks it late

Different starter, same Mets script: solo shots and a shutdown start.

Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto both left the yard in the first inning, and Lindor added another homer in the third. That was enough, because Griffin Canning kept Chicago quiet for seven, and the Mets bullpen chained the final six outs together with no drama.

The Sox did find one late — Kyle Teel launched a ninth-inning solo homer to spoil the shutout — but the comeback never got a second breath.

The real sting came with the note attached: Penn Murfee left the game injured while pitching, a development that would loom even larger the next day.

Game 3 (May 13): White Sox 11, Mets 8 — The comeback that changes the tone of a road trip

If the first two games were a reminder of how small the margins are, the finale was proof that Chicago can still take a punch and throw one back — repeatedly.

New York jumped ahead 3–0 in the first (Soto homer, Ty France two-run blast), then pushed it to 4–1 in the second. Chicago chipped, then Luis Robert Jr. detonated a two-run homer in the sixth to make it 4–3 and drag the Sox back into range.

And then the bottom of the sixth happened: the Mets pushed three more across to go up 7–3, Citi Field buzzing, the script ready to be filed away as “good try.”

Chicago ripped it up.

The turning point: the 5-run seventh

The White Sox loaded the bases, and Edgar Quero cleared them with a three-run triple, instantly flipping the pressure to New York. A sac fly brought Quero home to tie it, and then Colson Montgomery crushed a solo homer to cap the five-run avalanche and put Chicago in front 8–7.

They weren’t done. In the eighth, Chicago stacked quality at-bats and tacked on three more, with Samuel Zavala driving in a run and Quero delivering again to stretch the lead to 11–7. The Mets got one back on a Brett Baty homer, but Edwin Díaz slammed the door in the ninth to finish the job.

That game had everything: momentum swings, traffic, mistakes, and the kind of “we’re not going away” inning that can show up in a team’s identity later.

Player of the series: Colson Montgomery (and the kids in general)

If you wanted the clearest snapshot of Chicago’s path, it was this: the Sox got smothered twice, then won the finale because their young bats refused to fold.

Montgomery: huge presence in Game 3 (three hits, homer, on-base chaos).

Quero: the series’ defining swing — that bases-clearing triple — and a constant “next big moment” threat.

Teel: didn’t let the series end without leaving a mark (Game 2 homer, steady pressure).

The headline after the headline: Murfee down, Thorpe up

The win came with a cost: Penn Murfee hit the 15-day IL with a strained forearm (expected 1–2 weeks), and Drew Thorpe was recalled from AAA Charlotte to cover innings.

That’s a real test for the bullpen depth — especially with Chicago playing tight games against quality opponents.

What it means

Chicago leaves Queens at 20–17 with a series loss, but also with something you can build on: proof that this lineup can create a tidal wave when it strings plate appearances together. The warning label is just as clear: when the starter/relief combo isn’t sharp, and the strikeouts pile up, the offense can disappear fast.

Next up, the Sox turn the page quickly — and if the finale was any indication, they’ll do it with confidence, not relief.

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White Sox vs. Marlins (May 15–17, 2026): South Side power show wins the weekend — and a wild one in the middle

The White Sox walked out of a three-game set at Rate Field with exactly what they needed: a series win, a reminder that their young core can carry a lineup for stretches, and a clear snapshot of where the pitching staff still bends.

Chicago took the first two from Miami — including a dramatic extra-inning gut-punch on Saturday — before the Marlins salvaged the finale. When the dust settled, the Sox were 22–18, the Marlins 16–24.

Series vibe

This set had a theme, and it came off the barrel: Colson Montgomery put on a weekend-long clinic, and Chicago’s offense found timely thunder even when the run manufacturing got messy.

Game 1 — White Sox 4, Marlins 1 (Friday)

Friday looked like one of those “hold the line until the bats pop” nights — and then the 5th inning hit like a switch flip.

With Miami’s Connor Prielipp settling into a groove early, the Sox finally cracked him in the bottom of the 5th: Wilfred Veras ambushed one for a two-run homer, and moments later Edgar Quero went back-to-back with a solo shot. One inning, three runs, and the entire tone changed.

Chicago tacked on in the 6th when Montgomery launched another solo blast, giving them breathing room.

On the mound, Shane Smith looked every bit like the stopper. He carried Chicago deep (and controlled the game’s tempo), and the bullpen finished it off with calm late innings to secure a clean opener.

Headline moments

Veras + Quero turning the game with back-to-back bombs

Montgomery adding insurance with a laser to right

Smith setting the series tone from pitch one

Game 2 — White Sox 7, Marlins 6 (10 innings) (Saturday)

Saturday was chaos — the fun kind, if you’re wearing black and white.

Chicago jumped Miami early with a first-inning punch: Montgomery crushed a two-run homer to put the Sox in front, and the offense kept stacking good at-bats to build a 4–0 lead.

Then the game flipped in the 6th, when Miami erupted for a four-run inning to erase it and force the Sox into a bullpen-tightrope act.

The whole thing rolled into extras, and Miami struck first in the 10th — the kind of gut-check run that can end a day.

And then: Tirso Ornelas.

With the ghost runner on, Ornelas turned the entire stadium into a single sound wave, drilling a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th. One swing. Game over. Series clinched.

Headline moments

Montgomery setting the tone again early

Miami’s 6th-inning haymaker forcing a new game

Ornelas ending it with a walk-off blast that felt inevitable the moment it left the bat

Game 3 — Marlins 6, White Sox 4 (Sunday)

Miami saved its best for the getaway day, landing first and landing often.

The Marlins built a 4–0 lead behind early damage — including a two-run shot from Tyler O’Neill — and spent the rest of the afternoon answering every Chicago surge with just enough of a response.

To Chicago’s credit, they clawed all the way back:

In the 3rd, Montgomery homered again, and the Sox stole a run with pressure and speed.

In the 6th, they pieced together a tying rally (manufacturing runs the hard way) to make it 4–4.

But Miami immediately re-took control in the 7th, and then added a late run for separation. Chicago had chances, but the comeback energy finally ran out.

Headline moments

Montgomery finishing the series with another “I’m that guy” swing

The Sox tying it — and the Marlins snatching it right back

The big takeaway

Colson Montgomery owned this series. Power, presence, and the kind of impact that turns a three-game set into a personal highlight reel.

And big picture? Chicago banked a series win they had to have against a struggling club — exactly the kind of week-to-week discipline that keeps a team in the division race.

Notable news & transactions

May 16: 2B Chase Meidroth optioned to AAA Charlotte.

May 18 (Trade): White Sox dealt RHP Jack Flaherty (30) to the Pirates for LHP Hunter Barco (25). Barco was assigned to AAA Charlotte.

May 18 (Roster/Org moves):

SP Victor Mendez recalled from AAA Charlotte.

SP Keith Guppy promoted to Low-A Kannapolis.

CF Corey Meyer promoted to Low-A Kannapolis.

That Flaherty-for-Barco move screams two things at once: retool the pipeline while also clearing space for the kids — and the Mendez recall makes it feel like the “youth push” is about to get real in the rotation.

[XxVols98xX]

White Sox vs. Pirates (May 18–20, 2026)

Final: White Sox take the series, 2–1
Chicago’s record: 24–19 (Pirates 18–26)

If the series had a headline, it was this: Chicago hit the gas in Games 1 and 3, and spent Game 2 learning the hard way that nine innings still means nine innings — even when the other guys have been quiet all night.

Game 1 — White Sox 12, Pirates 1 (May 18)

The first night after the biggest news of the week, the White Sox offense looked like it wanted to make sure nobody forgot who owned Rate Field.

Tirso Ornelas set the tone early with a 2nd-inning solo shot, and Josh Salmonson followed immediately with another bomb — back-to-back thunder that turned the park into a party. Then the Sox poured it on with a six-run 4th, the kind of inning that breaks a team’s spirit: walks, line drives, a Luis Robert Jr. two-run double, and the centerpiece — Edgar Quero’s two-run homer that basically put the game in cruise control.

By the end, it was a runaway: 12 runs, 11 hits, and a scoreboard that never stopped blinking. Grant Taylor did his job (5.2 IP, 1 ER), and once the lead hit avalanche level, the bullpen simply escorted everyone to the finish line.

Big bats:

Quero: 4 hits and a monster night in the middle of everything

Ornelas: HR + constant pressure (and later added more damage)

Robert Jr.: loud contact when it mattered

Game 2 — Pirates 4, White Sox 0 (May 19)

This one had a plot twist you couldn’t script better if you tried:
Jack Flaherty — traded from Chicago to Pittsburgh on May 18 — turned around and carved up the Sox the very next day.

For eight innings, it felt like one of those tense, weird games where nobody scores and you assume the first mistake decides it. Chicago’s pitching held the line — Sean Burke and Shane Smith combined to keep Pittsburgh off the board — but the Sox couldn’t land the knockout punch against Flaherty’s six scoreless.

Then the ninth inning arrived like a thunderclap.

Pittsburgh entered the frame with zero runs… and left it with four, turning a scoreless game into a gut-punch loss in about ten minutes. Singles, a walk, a sac fly, then a big extra-base hit — suddenly the Sox were staring at a 4–0 hole they never got a chance to answer.

And adding to the chaos: Oneil Cruz was injured while running the bases, a moment that cast a shadow over the Pirates’ win even as they celebrated it.

Game 3 — White Sox 4, Pirates 0 (May 20)

Chicago answered immediately — and emphatically — behind top prospect Victor Mendez, who looked like he belonged the moment he took the ball.

The Sox struck first when Colson Montgomery launched a 1st-inning leadoff homer, and then Chicago leaned into a patient, grinding style that broke Pittsburgh’s starter: walks piled up, traffic stayed constant, and the Sox kept manufacturing runs without needing a million hits.

Mendez handled his part with poise (4.2 scoreless), and the bridge to the end was strong — until the injury bug bit again, with Drew Thorpe getting hurt while pitching. Chicago still finished the shutout, but it came with a cost.

This win felt like a snapshot of where your club is right now: young talent showing up, depth carrying weight, and the bullpen workload/injuries becoming the tension point underneath the success.

Series Takeaways
1) The Sox were the better team — and looked it in the run differential

Chicago outscored Pittsburgh 16–5 across three games, with one shutout and one blowout. That’s a series win that feels like control, not survival.

2) Ornelas and Quero are turning games with real impact

Ornelas provided the early spark in the opener, and Quero was the offensive axis — extra bases, big swings, big moments. That’s middle-of-the-order energy.

3) Mendez’s arrival changed the vibe

Calling up Victor Mendez didn’t just fill an inning — it injected belief. He looked like someone you can plan around, not just “try out.”

4) The Flaherty trade turned into instant drama

Trading Flaherty and then watching him blank you the next day is the kind of baseball irony that sticks. Long-term, the return is the story — but short-term, Pittsburgh absolutely won that one night.

Notable News / Transactions (from your notes)

May 16: 2B Chase Meidroth optioned to AAA Charlotte

May 18 (Major): Sox trade Jack Flaherty to Pirates for LHP Hunter Barco (assigned to AAA Charlotte)

May 18 (Promotions): Victor Mendez recalled to MLB; Keith Guppy to Low-A Kannapolis; CF Corey Meyer to Low-A Kannapolis

May 19–20 (Minors): Braden Montgomery goes nuclear — 3 HR one day, 5-hit game the next

May 21: Drew Thorpe to 15-day IL (expected ~3 weeks)

May 21: Noah Schultz contract selected; starting in the bullpen

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Crosstown Checkpoint: Cubs take two of three, but Sox leave Wrigley with a puncher’s chance (25-21)

The White Sox walked into Wrigley needing to prove their early-season pace wasn’t a mirage. They walked out bruised in the middle two games, but still very much in the AL Central chase at 25-21, sitting a half-game back of Minnesota—while the Cubs, after taking the last two, settled at 24-24 with the rivalry still feeling unfinished.

Game 1 (Fri, May 22): White Sox 8, Cubs 7 — ninth-inning doubles derby

Friday night turned into a classic: early fireworks, a blown lead, and then a late Sox gut-check that stole the game back.

Chicago (AL) stormed to a 5-0 lead behind relentless pressure—Luis Robert Jr. ran wild and kept forcing throws, Bryan Ramos launched a solo shot, and the Sox kept stacking doubles until Wrigley was rattled.

But the cracks showed too. A defensive miscue opened the door, and Dansby Swanson’s three-run homer detonated the calm. The Cubs clawed all the way back, then in the bottom of the 8th finally nudged ahead, 7-6, in the kind of moment that usually flips an entire series.

Not this time.

In the top of the 9th, the Sox answered with pure lineup depth and nerve:

Colson Montgomery ripped a leadoff double, then swiped third like he owned the basepaths.

Miguel Vargas doubled in the tying run.

Kyle Teel, pressed into a huge spot, doubled in the go-ahead run.

From there, Edwin Díaz slammed the door for save No. 13, and the Sox escaped with the kind of win that feels louder than one game in the standings.

Player of the Game: Miguel Vargas — 3 hits, 2 RBIs, and a season-defining swing in the 9th.

Side note that mattered: the Cubs’ bullpen took a hit—Robbie Ray and Cade Horton both left injured while pitching.

Game 2 (Sat, May 23): Cubs 8, White Sox 0 — Sandoval silences them, Schultz debuts

Saturday was the flip side of the rivalry: the Cubs landed first, kept landing, and the Sox never found air.

Patrick Sandoval carved through Chicago’s lineup, and the Cubs struck with a three-run third, then added on with power late. The Sox managed only scattered traffic and no payoff, and one defensive mistake snowballed into another.

The bright spot—at least as a “big picture” development—was the debut chapter of Noah Schultz, freshly called up and immediately dropped into Wrigley pressure. The results were rocky (including a costly long ball in the late innings), but the organization’s direction was clear: the kid’s here, and they’re not hiding him.

Game 3 (Sun, May 24): Cubs 7, White Sox 1 — Imanaga sets the tone, fifth inning breaks it open

Sunday started with the Sox playing uphill immediately after an error helped the Cubs scratch the first run. Then Lenyn Sosa popped a solo homer, and the scoreboard pressure just kept growing.

The Sox did get a jolt when Wilfred Veras went deep to cut it to 2-1—his second homer of the series—but the game snapped in the bottom of the 5th. The Cubs turned it into a full-on inning: triples, rockets into gaps, and the dagger—Pete Crow-Armstrong’s two-run homer—that flipped it from “reachable” to “survive.”

Schultz, used again out of the bullpen, looked far more comfortable in this one—calmer, cleaner, and better at limiting damage. If the Sox are going to build something around him this year, Sunday looked more like the shape of it.

Series themes that actually mattered

1) The Sox proved they can win in chaos…
Friday’s comeback was pure “team belief” baseball: speed, doubles, and timely swings when the game was slipping away.

2) …but the offense disappeared for 18 innings after.
Two runs across Saturday and Sunday doesn’t cut it, especially when the defense is giving away extra outs.

3) Schultz’s arrival is the headline beyond the scoreboard.
Even with a bumpy first look, the Sox are officially in the “let the future play” phase—while still winning enough to keep the standings interesting.

News/Transactions: the system is moving

Braden Montgomery caught absolute fire, earning Southern League Player of the Week after a nuclear week at Birmingham, then earned a promotion to AAA Charlotte.

Mike Small (top pitching prospect) promoted to AA Birmingham.

Jarold Rosado optioned to AAA; Ky Bush recalled.

Earlier: Drew Thorpe hit the IL (15-day, about three weeks expected), and Schultz was selected to the big-league roster with the initial plan to work out of the bullpen.

[XxVols98xX]

White Sox at Tigers: A punch in the mouth… then two haymakers back

Three games in Detroit, and the White Sox left Comerica Park looking exactly like a team that expects to matter in the AL Central race: they absorbed the early gut-shot in the opener, then spent the next two nights turning the series into a statement. Chicago takes two of three and walks out at 27–22, while Detroit slides to 24–26.

And the way it happened? It felt like a flip of the switch — from “long night” to “don’t blink.”

Game 1 (Mon, May 25): Tigers 9, White Sox 2

The opener went sideways fast, and it stayed there.

Detroit jumped Chicago immediately, turning the bottom of the first into a highlight reel from their side. A defensive mistake cracked the door, and the Tigers kicked it off the hinges — the inning ended with Odúbel Herrera unloading a grand slam that made it 5–0 before the White Sox could get settled.

Chicago finally scratched back in the fourth on a Bryan Ramos RBI single, and Colson Montgomery kept swinging by ripping an RBI triple later, but there wasn’t enough oxygen in the game to build real momentum. Detroit added more thunder — including a Kerry Carpenter three-run homer — and the night turned into survival mode.

Takeaway: A rough one, but it mattered what came next.

Game 2 (Tue, May 26): White Sox 11, Tigers 2

Chicago didn’t respond — it pounced.

The White Sox started this one like they were still mad about Monday:

Colson Montgomery led off the scoring with a first-inning solo homer.

Bryan Ramos answered right behind him with another first-inning bomb.

And by the time Ramos launched his second homer of the night (a monster shot in the third), Detroit was already chasing shadows.

The pitching plan worked, too. Victor Mendez kept the game under control early, and then the bullpen — including Ky Bush in a key bridge role — kept the Tigers boxed in.

And then came the moment that turned it from “win” into “message”: a six-run ninth inning that basically felt like Chicago putting the receipt on the table and walking away.

Also worth noting: Detroit took a double hit in-game, with Hao-Yu Lee and Parker Meadows both leaving after getting injured on the bases.

Takeaway: Power early, pressure late, and Chicago’s depth showed up in a big way.

Game 3 (Wed, May 27): White Sox 11, Tigers 2

If Tuesday was loud, Wednesday was clinical.

Mike Vasil gave Chicago the kind of start that makes a series win feel inevitable: six scoreless innings, steady traffic management, and a Tigers lineup that never got comfortable.

Then the offense did what it’s been doing in this series’ final two games: pile on in waves.

Chicago broke through with a two-run fourth, helped along by a big Eguy Rosario swing.

Then Rosario delivered the knockout: a grand slam that turned the game into a runway.

Later, Tirso Ornelas tagged a two-run homer to keep the foot down.

Detroit did avoid the shutout with a late two-run shot, but the game had been decided long before that.

Takeaway: Vasil looked like a guy who belongs, and the lineup punished every crack.

Series storyline: The Sox won the last two games by a combined 22–4

That’s the headline. One ugly opener, then two straight games where Chicago’s young core played like the future is already here.

Names that defined the series:

Bryan Ramos: loud power, constant presence, and the kind of “I’m taking over” stretch you remember in May.

Colson Montgomery: set the tone with pop and didn’t let up.

Eguy Rosario: the grand slam in the finale was the dagger.

Mike Vasil: steadied the whole thing with a start that screamed “trust me with October-type games.”

Standings check: Chicago stays right in the fight

After the series, the White Sox sit 27–22, 2nd in the AL Central, 1.5 games behind Minnesota, while Detroit is 5 games back. Chicago’s also sitting firmly in the wild card picture, and the vibe right now is: this team isn’t just hanging around — it’s throwing elbows.

News/transactions that change the tone

The celebration comes with a real punch of bad news:

RF Miguel Vargas hit the 15-day IL with a strained MCL and is expected to miss 5–6 weeks.

2B Chase Meidroth was recalled from AAA Charlotte to help cover the innings.

And in the organization pipeline, there’s real momentum:

Top prospect Braden Montgomery grabbed Southern League Player of the Week, then earned a promotion to AAA Charlotte.

Top prospect Mike Small moved up to AA Birmingham.

Ky Bush was recalled and immediately factored into a win.

[XxVols98xX]

White Sox take 3 of 4 in Kansas City, leave Kauffman in first — even after Bieber’s Sunday buzzsaw

The Chicago White Sox walked into Kansas City for a four-gamer with a chance to put real daylight between themselves and the AL Central pack — and they mostly did it the hard way: tight late innings, aggressive baserunning, and a bullpen that kept slamming doors.

When the dust settled, the Sox were 30-23 and still sitting 1st in the AL Central, while the Royals fell to 24-30. The only sour note was the finale, when Shane Bieber turned the series into a one-man clinic and reminded Chicago that sometimes you just tip your cap and move on.

Still, it was a statement set: three wins in four games on the road, highlighted by Edgar Quero’s loudest moments and Colson Montgomery’s red-hot month officially getting league-wide recognition.

Game 1 (May 28): White Sox 2, Royals 1 — Quero detonates the ninth

It was scoreless tension for five innings, then a Royals punch first: Joey Bart jumped a Cannon pitch in the 4th for a solo shot, and suddenly Chicago was staring at one of those “we had chances” nights.

But the Sox kept leaning on pressure — walks, steals, traffic — and finally cracked it in the 6th. Wilfred Veras worked a walk, Bryan Ramos ripped a double, and a wild pitch brought the tying run home.

Then the hammer: Edgar Quero stepped in during the 9th and launched a go-ahead solo homer to flip the whole game on its head. Jonathan Cannon (6 IP, 1 ER) gave them exactly what they needed, and the bullpen finished the job with Edwin Díaz locking down the save.

Vibe check: win a one-run grinder on the road, then let the clubhouse exhale.

Game 2 (May 29): White Sox 6, Royals 3 — early ambush, then survive the weird

Chicago came out swinging in the 3rd, stringing hits and chaos into a three-run inning — including run-scoring contact that kept forcing Kansas City to make plays under stress. They tacked on two more in the 4th, and when the Royals tried to answer, the Sox kept counterpunching.

Grant Taylor gutted through 6 innings, the bullpen stitched it together, and Díaz finished off another save.

The big storyline underneath the box: this game got messy physically for Kansas City. The notes were brutal — Dairon Blanco injured running the bases, Bobby Witt Jr. injured in a collision, and Josh Salmonson injured running the bases. It had the feel of a night where every hard 90 feet carried consequences.

Game 3 (May 30): White Sox 4, Royals 0 — Shane Smith and Ky Bush erase the Royals

This one was clean, loud, and controlled.

In the 1st inning, Luis Robert Jr. got on, stole second, and Quero made it hurt with a two-run homer that instantly took the air out of Kauffman. Then in the 7th, Montgomery joined the party with a two-run blast to make it 4-0, and that was basically the end of the conversation.

Shane Smith delivered six scoreless, and Ky Bush slammed the last three innings for a save — a four-hit shutout that felt like Chicago’s pitching staff putting a stamp on the series.

Game 4 (May 31): Royals 6, White Sox 0 — Bieber shuts off the lights

The Sox entered Sunday with a chance to sweep the road set. Instead, they ran into a wall with a Cy Young résumé.

Shane Bieber went 8 shutout innings with 11 strikeouts, and Chicago never found a clean answer. They managed five hits, but the threat never really lingered long enough to make the Royals sweat.

Kansas City struck early (2 in the 1st), then kept stacking damage — including a Cam Devanney solo homer and a Stuart Fairchild two-run shot — and suddenly a 3-0 game became a 6-0 runway.

It was the classic “win the series, lose the finale” landing — unpleasant, but not the kind that changes what the weekend meant.

Series themes that mattered
Edgar Quero was the heartbeat

If you’re looking for the series MVP, it’s hard to argue against the catcher/DH who hit the biggest homer of the set (May 28) and then opened the scoring with another bomb (May 30). In a series defined by tight margins, he kept supplying the swing that changed the scoreboard.

Colson Montgomery’s May went national

Even with the Sunday shutout, Montgomery’s month was too loud to ignore: he was named AL Player of the Week and AL Player of the Month for May. The timing couldn’t be better for Chicago — a division leader getting star-level production from a cornerstone bat.

The roster churn hit mid-series

Miguel Vargas hit the 15-day IL with a strained MCL (5–6 weeks), forcing lineup flexibility.

Chase Meidroth came up from AAA as coverage.

After the series, Jason Adam was optioned and Penn Murfee returned from the IL.

That’s a lot of moving pieces for a team that just banked three road wins — and it speaks to how steady the pitching backbone has been.

Bottom line

Chicago didn’t just win a series — they took control of it, won in multiple styles (late rally, early burst, shutout), and walked out still on top of the AL Central at 30-23. The finale stung, but it didn’t erase the bigger picture:

This team is playing like it expects to be here.

[XxVols98xX]

Chicago White Sox 2026: April & May Recap

A hot start, a mid-spring grind, and a club that still looks like it’s built to run the AL Central into the ground.

April: 16–8 — The Sox came out throwing punches

The 2026 White Sox didn’t tiptoe into the season — they kicked the door in. April was a statement month (16–8), powered by a lineup that pressured defenses every inning and a staff that gave the club just enough breathing room to stack series wins.

The identity showed up immediately: speed + chaos

Chicago’s running game wasn’t just a fun wrinkle — it was a weapon that changed games. Even in April, the Sox were already leaning into the idea that one single = instant scoring threat, with the club setting the tone for what’s now the best stolen-base team in baseball.

The bats carried a “pick-your-poison” feel

Edgar Quero looked like the lineup’s heartbeat: constant traffic, big extra-base damage, and run production in the middle.

Colson Montgomery didn’t just “hold his own” — he looked like a guy you build an order around. The at-bats were loud early, and the month set the runway for what May turned into.

Pitching: top-end dominance, some bumps, but enough wins

Shane Smith was the early-season cheat code. Every fifth day felt like the Sox were starting the game up 1–0.

Behind him, it was more “survive and advance,” but April’s win pile gave Chicago margin for error going forward.

Bottom line: April created the cushion. The Sox didn’t just win — they established a style.

May: 14–15 — The first real gut-check… and the Sox survived it

May was baseball reminding everyone it’s a long season. The Sox went 14–15, and the month had that “every win costs you something” vibe — tougher sequencing, colder bats on random nights, and just enough pitching volatility to turn a 6–2 week into a 3–4 week fast.

And yet? Chicago walked out of May still sitting in the driver’s seat.

The headliner: Montgomery went full main character

May is where the league started putting some respect on the name. Montgomery didn’t just play well — he owned the month’s spotlight, collecting:

AL Player of the Month (May)

AL Player of the Week (end of May)

AL Rookie of the Month (May)

That’s not “nice rookie stretch.” That’s “this guy’s dictating series.”

The offense stayed dangerous even when it wasn’t “hot”

Even with the month’s ups and downs, Chicago’s profile stayed loud:

They’re still near the top of the league in run scoring because they can manufacture offense (walks + steals + extra-base hits).

They’re still a nightmare to keep off the bases, because the lineup doesn’t have to homer to hurt you.

The warning light: contact allowed + homers

May also highlighted the thing to keep an eye on:

Too many innings where opponents made solid contact, and the long ball punished mistakes.

When the staff wasn’t missing bats at the right times, games tightened fast — and tight games are where a couple of bad pitches flip a week.

Still, surviving a mediocre month without giving up the division lead is a good sign. Great teams don’t avoid rough stretches — they don’t let them become spirals.

Two-month snapshot: Why Chicago’s still built to lead this thing

April put them ahead. May tested them.
And the Sox came out of it with:

a clear offensive identity (pressure, speed, depth),

a breakout star pushing into league-wide recognition (Montgomery),

and enough wins banked to stay in first even when the schedule (and variance) got mean.

If June brings even a mild pitching steadiness bump, this starts looking less like a “nice start” and more like a “they might actually control the Central” season.

[XxVols98xX]

White Sox vs. Padres (June 1–3, 2026): Lead Lost, Bats Quiet, One Last Punch

The White Sox walked into June with a chance to plant a flag against one of baseball’s best clubs — and instead got a three-game reminder of how thin the margin is when the opponent can both punish mistakes and win low-scoring games.

San Diego took all three at Rate Field, leaving Chicago 30–26 after the set, while the Padres rolled on at 33–23. It wasn’t just a sweep — it was three different kinds of gut-checks.

Game 1: The 6–0 lead that disappeared (Padres 10, White Sox 6)

For five innings, it looked like the Sox had authored the perfect script.

Edgar Quero detonated a two-run homer in the 1st, and Bryan Ramos followed him with a solo shot right behind it.

Chicago stacked on more damage early (including runs forced in by patience), and by the middle innings the Sox were sitting on a 6–0 cushion.

Then the game flipped like a switch.

The Padres finally cracked the seal in the 6th, and the knockout blow landed in the 7th: Thairo Estrada’s grand slam turned a Chicago lead into a San Diego takeover. What felt like a comfortable night became a bullpen nightmare, and by the time the dust settled, it was a 10–6 Padres win.

The headline: Chicago’s lineup did enough to win — until the late innings made it irrelevant.

Game 2: Cease squeezes the oxygen out (Padres 3, White Sox 1)

The series moved from chaos to a grind — and San Diego won that version too.

Dylan Cease (now wearing Padres colors) turned the game into a constant uphill walk. Chicago scratched only one run, and even that required help: defensive mistakes by San Diego opened the door, and the Sox briefly stepped through it.

But every time Chicago threatened, the inning ended with the kind of swing (or strike call) you remember for all the wrong reasons.

The moment that summed it up: a key Samuel Zavala triple that didn’t turn into a run — the kind of missed opportunity that decides tight games against elite teams.

Game 3: Shut down for eight… then a late jolt (Padres 4, White Sox 2)

Wednesday started as a clean, tense pitcher’s duel — then turned into another San Diego lesson in finishing.

The Padres pushed across two in the 6th, and then added insurance in the 8th — including a Randy Arozarena homer and a run that turned a close game into a mountain.

Chicago was quiet most of the night… until the ninth, when Eliezer Alfonzo finally put a scare into San Diego with a two-run homer to make it 4–2. It was loud, it was needed, and it was too late.

The takeaway: the Sox didn’t fold — but they couldn’t crack the game open before the Padres did.

Series Themes: What the Padres exposed

1) Late-inning volatility
Game 1 was the flashing red sign: when your bullpen loses the strike zone (or leaves pitches in launch angles), a lead doesn’t mean safety — it means the other team is just waiting for one swing.

2) “Good pitching beats good hitting” — and San Diego brought both
Cease and company controlled tempo, and the Sox spent too much of the series needing a big hit instead of stacking smaller ones.

3) The kids still popped
Even in a sweep, Chicago’s young core left fingerprints:

Quero continues to look like a centerpiece bat.

Ramos keeps running into damage.

Nunez and Zavala keep flashing tools that matter in October games — even when the results don’t cash immediately.

Where it leaves Chicago (as of June 5)

Chicago sits 30–26, 2 games back in the AL Central, still very much in the race — but the Padres series felt like a measuring stick series that came up short.

News/Transactions (June 5)

SP Noah Schultz optioned to AAA Charlotte

RP Drew Thorpe activated from the IL

That combo reads like a club trying to stabilize innings: protecting a young arm while getting reinforcements back into the mix as the schedule keeps coming.

[XxVols98xX]

White Sox vs. Astros (June 5–7, 2026): Chicago takes the punch… and steals the last word

For two days at Rate Field, it felt like the Astros showed up with one mission: hit the White Sox right in the teeth. And for two days, the Sox kept getting back up—only to watch Houston land the final haymaker.

Then Sunday happened.

Behind a relentless, scrappy offense and a ninth-inning comeback that flipped the entire vibe of the weekend, Chicago walked off Houston 9–8 to salvage the finale and finish the series 1–2, moving to 31–28 while the Astros slid to 27–32.

Series storyline: Houston’s stars vs. Chicago’s stubbornness

Yordan Alvarez was an absolute problem all weekend (multi-HR opener, late dagger Saturday, grand slam Sunday).

The Sox countered with speed, pressure, and chaos—stolen bases, first-to-third aggression, and just enough clutch contact to keep dragging Houston into uncomfortable innings.

The difference until the final frame Sunday: Houston’s big swings kept winning the biggest moments… until Chicago finally wrote one of its own.

Game 1 — June 5: Astros 5, White Sox 3

Houston struck early and never fully let the Sox breathe.

Alvarez went deep in the 1st to set the tone, then homered again in the 3rd to make it 2–0.

Chicago finally cracked the scoreboard in the 5th: Nasim Núñez singled, ran wild, and scored on a Samuel Zavala RBI hit to cut it to 2–1.

The Sox kept clawing: another run in the 7th, then in the 8th they manufactured one with pure pressure—Luis Robert Jr. got on, stole second, stole third, and scored on a sac fly to make it a one-run game.

But Houston’s late thunder finished it:

Yainer Díaz hit a solo shot in the 9th, and the Sox couldn’t answer.

Result: Chicago drops the opener, 5–3.
Tone setter: Alvarez announcing he’s the strongest guy in the building.

Game 2 — June 6: Astros 9, White Sox 7

This one was a full-blown roller coaster, and it featured two gut punches: one early, one late.

The Sox actually struck first thanks to a Houston misplay and Bryan Ramos’ early RBI double.

Then the roof caved in during Houston’s 6-run 3rd inning:

Jake Meyers grand slam

Tyler Nevin two-run homer

And suddenly it was survival mode.

To Chicago’s credit, they refused to fold:

They chipped away, got traffic, forced mistakes, and kept dragging the Astros into leverage.

Luis Robert Jr. tied it in the 8th with a solo homer, blowing the game wide open again at 7–7.

Then came the dagger:

Alvarez hit a two-run homer in the 9th, and Houston walked out with the 9–7 win.

Result: Sox come all the way back… then lose it late.
Gut check moment: tying it in the 8th, only to watch it vanish in the 9th.

Game 3 — June 7: White Sox 9, Astros 8 (walk-off madness)

If the first two games were about Houston’s stars, Sunday was about Chicago’s heartbeat.

Chicago built a 3–0 lead, then watched Houston erase it with one swing:

Alvarez grand slam in the 6th turned the game on its head.

But again: no folding.

Wilfred Veras launched a two-run homer to push Chicago back in front.

Chase Meidroth delivered a huge RBI double later to keep the Sox ahead.

Then the ninth inning went completely off the rails:

Jose Altuve smashed a three-run homer to put Houston up 8–6, and it felt like the weekend script was writing itself again.

Except Chicago ripped it up.

Bottom of the 9th:

Walks.

Line drives.

Chaos on the bases.

And a final swing that brought two runs home and ended it with the Sox pouring out of the dugout.

Result: White Sox win 9–8 in the kind of game that can kickstart a month.
Signature moment: getting punched in the mouth (again) and punching back harder.

What it means

Chicago (31–28) didn’t win the series, but they took something important: proof they can survive a heavyweight weekend and still land on their feet.

They also saw the flip side: when the opponent has Alvarez-level power, one mistake inning can wreck a good game plan.

The finale matters because it changes the conversation:

Instead of “another heartbreak”, it’s “they found a way.”

[XxVols98xX]

White Sox take two of three in Tampa — and leave the Rays chasing

The Chicago White Sox didn’t just win a series at Tropicana Field — they did it in a way that plays in June and plays in October: steady starting pitching in the wins, relentless pressure on the bases, and late-inning haymakers when the Rays blinked.

When the dust settled on the three-game set, Chicago walked out 33-29 and Tampa Bay stumbled to 31-30 — a neat little reminder of who currently owns the higher rung in the standings.

Chicago took the opener 7-2, swallowed the middle game 9-3 loss, then closed the deal with a gritty 7-4 win in the finale. Total damage across the series: White Sox 17 runs, Rays 15 — but Chicago controlled the leverage moments, and that’s what tilted the set.

Game 1 (June 9): White Sox 7, Rays 2 — late chaos, then the dagger

Tampa Bay struck first in the bottom of the 1st when Junior Caminero ambushed an early fastball for a two-run homer after Chandler Simpson reached and stole second. For a few innings, it looked like one of those “McClanahan is dealing, good luck” nights.

Then the White Sox flipped the script in the 4th:

Wilfred Veras doubled

Bryan Ramos launched a two-run homer to tie it, 2-2

The real turning point came in the 8th, and it was pure pressure baseball. Chicago got the go-ahead runs without even needing a clean swing:

Eguy Rosario reached on catcher’s interference

Edgar Quero ripped a single

A passed ball and then a wild pitch turned the inning into a Rays nightmare as two runs crossed

And if Tampa still had any thoughts of a comeback, the 9th erased them:

Eliezer Alfonzo tripled in a run

Edgar Quero followed with a two-run homer to slam the door

Jonathan Cannon steadied after the 1st and gave Chicago 6 solid innings, and the bullpen trio (Tyler Schweitzer, Brandon Eisert, Ky Bush) kept Tampa quiet the rest of the way. The Sox also flexed their wheels — Nasim Núñez stole both second and third in the late innings, constantly forcing the Rays to speed up.

Game 2 (June 10): Rays 9, White Sox 3 — Tampa’s power night, plus an injury scare

This one got away early, and it got loud in a hurry.

Tampa Bay tagged Grant Taylor right out of the gate when Caminero hit another two-run homer in the 1st (after an error extended the inning). In the 2nd, Jake McCarthy added a two-run blast after a walk-and-steal sequence, and suddenly it was 4-0 with the Trop awake.

Chicago finally pushed back in the 6th with a clean rally:

Kyle Teel singled

Luis Robert Jr. doubled

Bryan Ramos delivered a run-scoring hit

Tirso Ornelas chipped in another RBI knock

But the Rays answered immediately — and emphatically — with a four-run 6th featuring a Kody Clemens two-run homer and a Carson Williams solo shot, turning it into a blowout.

The headline wrinkle: Caminero left injured after a collision at a base, putting a real cloud over Tampa’s win.

Game 3 (June 11): White Sox 7, Rays 4 — Meidroth and Robert bring the thunder late

The finale felt like a tug-of-war: Tampa landed first again (Clemens solo HR in the 1st), but Chicago responded with two runs in the 2nd using contact and situational execution — exactly the kind of inning that travels:

Zavala and Salmonson singles set it up

Núñez knocked in a run with a groundout

Alfonzo brought home another with a groundout

After the Rays tied it in the 3rd, the White Sox produced the swing of the day in the 5th:

Eliezer Alfonzo singled

Chase Meidroth crushed a two-run homer to put Chicago back in front

Chicago kept adding:

An RBI single from Meidroth in the 6th

More traffic created by Núñez and Alfonzo at the top of the order

Tampa made it sweaty late — trimming it to 5-4 — but Chicago’s bullpen answered the bell, and then the Sox delivered the knockout in the 9th:

Edgar Quero singled

Luis Robert Jr. detonated a two-run homer for breathing room

Shane Smith fought through traffic and still got five innings, and the back end (Burke into Edwin Díaz for the save) finished it off.

Series storylines that mattered

1) Chicago’s “pressure runs” were a real thing.
Catcher’s interference, passed ball, wild pitch, aggressive steals — the Sox didn’t wait around for three-run homers to show up. They forced mistakes, especially in Game 1.

2) The young core kept showing up in big spots.

Edgar Quero was the headliner in Game 1 (and set up the Game 3 dagger rally).

Bryan Ramos consistently put the barrel on the ball all series.

Chase Meidroth owned the finale with the game-changing homer.

3) Bullpen advantage swung the set.
In the two wins, Chicago’s relievers controlled the middle/late innings. In the loss, Tampa’s power surge made the bullpen part irrelevant.

[XxVols98xX]

White Sox take two of three from Mariners, ride power early and patience late to reach 35–30

The Chicago White Sox didn’t just win a series against Seattle — they imposed it.

Across three games at Rate Field, the Sox mixed early thunder (hello again, Luis Robert Jr.) with timely late-game execution (enter: Edgar Quero) to take two of three from the Mariners and finish the set 35–30, while Seattle slid to 30–35.

It wasn’t clean. It wasn’t quiet. It was a series that swung on homers, stolen bases, and a couple of “blink and you missed it” moments that turned innings into avalanches.

Game 1 — White Sox 5, Mariners 2 (June 12)

Chicago landed the first punch in the opening inning, then spent the rest of the night stacking small advantages until the Mariners ran out of runway.

The centerpiece was Luis Robert Jr., who turned the third inning into a personal highlight reel — a two-run homer that pushed Chicago’s lead to 3–0 and immediately put Seattle in chase mode. Even when the Mariners finally scratched a run in the fifth, the Sox bullpen kept the game on rails.

Then came the deciding sequence in the eighth: Chicago pressured the defense, ran wild, and manufactured two more runs to stretch the lead to 5–1.

Seattle’s lone late roar was a Julio Rodríguez solo shot in the ninth, but by then it played more like a footnote than a comeback spark. Chicago’s relief corps handled the rest, and the Sox opened the series with the kind of controlled win that makes a team feel bigger than one game.

Headline acts: Robert’s bat, Chicago’s late-game speed, and a bullpen that didn’t blink.

Game 2 — Mariners 6, White Sox 4 (June 13)

The Mariners didn’t change the script early — Chicago still struck first — but they rewrote the ending.

Robert did it again in the first, crushing a two-run homer after Edgar Quero jump-started the inning. One inning later, Samuel Zavala went deep as well, and the Sox looked like they were gearing up for another “front-run and finish” type of day.

Seattle refused to cooperate.

The Mariners leaned into a simple formula: keep swinging, keep lifting. They chipped back with homers, tied it, and then turned the late innings into a pressure test. Chicago answered once — pushing across a run in the eighth to make it 4–4 — but Seattle had the last two punches.

The decisive moment came in the ninth: Seattle put traffic on, manufactured a run, and forced Chicago into reaction mode. The Mariners tacked on late, and Andrés Muñoz shut the door to even the series.

The difference: Seattle’s power kept showing up in waves, and Chicago couldn’t keep every surge contained.

Game 3 — White Sox 4, Mariners 2 (June 14)

Sunday felt like a classic “whoever flinches first loses” game… until Chicago stopped flinching altogether.

Seattle grabbed a 2–0 lead and held it deep into the middle innings, with Chicago’s offense mostly reduced to hard contact without payoff. The turning point arrived in the sixth when the Sox finally stitched together clean at-bats: hits, pressure, and a couple of productive outs that tied the game 2–2.

Then, the seventh inning belonged to Edgar Quero.

With a runner in scoring position, Quero unloaded on one and launched a two-run homer that flipped the stadium from tense to loud in a single swing. It was the kind of moment that makes a series feel decided — not because it was flashy, but because it was final. Chicago’s bullpen followed by slamming the door, and the Sox secured the series with a two-inning exhale.

Signature moment: Quero’s 2-run blast in the 7th — the swing that won the series.

Series takeaways

Luis Robert Jr. set the tone. Homers in the first two games, impact runs, and constant pressure when he was on base — he looked like the best athlete on the field and played like it.

Edgar Quero delivered the exclamation point. The late, series-sealing homer in Game 3 was the defining swing of the weekend.

Chicago won the “late innings” overall. Even with the Game 2 stumble, the Sox repeatedly got quality bullpen work and kept themselves in position to finish games.

Seattle’s power showed up — but not consistently enough. The Mariners’ Game 2 explosion was real, but they couldn’t carry that same bite into the opener or the finale.

[XxVols98xX]

White Sox sweep the Cubs, tighten grip on Chicago — and the AL Central

The White Sox didn’t just win the Crosstown set at Rate Field — they owned it.

Three games, three wins, and a loud reminder of where each team sits right now: Chicago (AL) exits the series 38-30, still sitting atop the AL Central, while the Cubs stumble out at 31-38 after getting out-pitched, out-timed, and flat-out outplayed when the moments mattered.

The numbers tell the story in neon: the Sox took the series by a combined 12-5 score, and the Cubs spent most of the week trying to breathe against a staff that never gave them oxygen.

Game 1 (Mon, June 15): White Sox 4, Cubs 2

Player of the Game: Grant Taylor

If the tone of the series was “good luck scoring,” Grant Taylor wrote the opening chapter.

Taylor went 6 strong innings with 6 K’s, keeping the Cubs quiet while the Sox struck early and kept stacking pressure.

The swing that started it

Tirso Ornelas launched a 1st-inning solo homer to put the Sox on the board immediately — a “welcome to Rate Field” missile that set the energy for the night.

The inning that tilted the game

In the 2nd, the Sox manufactured another run, with Kyle Teel coming through on a single that turned into chaos at the plate. It wasn’t pretty — it was perfect.

The dagger insurance

Luis Robert Jr. doubled, stole third, then scored on an Ornelas RBI single in the 5th — classic Robert: instant threat, instant payoff.

After the Cubs cut into it late (including a Michael Busch homer), the bullpen slammed the door:

Sean Burke bridged it.

Edwin Díaz nailed down Save No. 18.

Game 2 (Tue, June 16): White Sox 6, Cubs 3

Player of the Game: Shane Smith
Series theme, continued: Cubs chasing shadows

This one had a little more noise — and even then, the Cubs mostly scored because the Sox gave them a flashlight.

Early damage

Eliezer Alfonzo ripped a 1st-inning triple and eventually scored on a sac fly.

Wilfred Veras followed with a 2nd-inning solo nuke (a 419-foot statement) to push it to 2-0.

The inning that broke it open

In the 3rd, the Sox put together a loud, clean rally:

Kyle Teel and Alfonzo set the table.

Robert Jr. delivered the key hit — and the Sox cashed multiple runs with aggressive baserunning that kept the Cubs defense scrambling.

Cubs “rally” = walks and a mistake

Chicago’s three runs came with a heavy assist:

One run off an error + walks (including a bases-loaded walk).

Another on a double-play ball that still brought a run home.

Meanwhile, Shane Smith simply kept winning:

5 innings, 1 earned run, 6 strikeouts, and a whole lot of “try again next inning.”

And even with a late push, the Sox bullpen held:

Tyler Schweitzer + Burke stabilized it.

The Cubs never got the tying run to the plate in a real, dangerous spot.

Notable moment: A brief scare as Colson Montgomery was noted as injured while throwing — but the Sox never lost their edge, and the situation didn’t derail the series momentum.

Game 3 (Wed, June 17): White Sox 2, Cubs 0

Player of the Game: Victor Mendez
The exclamation point: a shutout and a punchout party

The finale wasn’t dramatic. It was clinical.

Two swings. That’s all.

Luis Robert Jr. smoked a 1st-inning solo homer to break the game open immediately.

Eguy Rosario added a 3rd-inning solo shot, and that was the ballgame.

Because once the Sox had two, Victor Mendez basically turned the lights off:

5 scoreless innings

11 strikeouts

No free passes, no breathing room, no mercy.

The bullpen finished the sweep like a team that expects to win these games:

Clean outs.

Calm innings.

No late-inning drama.

The sweep takeaway: pitching carried the city

This series felt like a referendum on identity.

The Sox won it with:

Power at the right times (Ornelas, Veras, Robert, Rosario)

Relentless pitching (Taylor and Smith set the tone; Mendez dropped the hammer)

Bullpen control (Díaz and company made every lead feel bigger than it was)

The Cubs, meanwhile, spent three nights running into the same wall: too many strikeouts, too few clean rallies, and not enough big swings with traffic.

What it means in the standings

The Sox walk out at 38-30, still sitting 1st in the AL Central — and they did it by taking care of business against their in-city rival in a spot where emotion can get teams in trouble.

Instead, the Sox looked locked-in.

The Cubs leave at 31-38, and in a season that’s already been choppy, getting swept across town just adds weight to every next series.

What’s next

The Sox now head to Texas for a tough matchup stretch that will test whether this pitching surge travels:

Logan Gilbert

Jack Leiter

Jacob deGrom

If the Sox bring this version of their rotation and bullpen on the road, they’re not just trying to hang onto the division — they’re starting to look like a team that can put real separation between themselves and the pack.

[XxVols98xX]

The White Sox landed in Arlington tied to the Rangers in vibe and urgency — two teams hovering around the same tier, both acting like every inning mattered. Three games later, Chicago walked out with the bigger statement: a 2–1 series win and a little extra separation in the standings pecking order.

Final after the set: White Sox 40–31, Rangers 39–32 — and it sure felt like a preview of something that could get loud again later.

Series vibe: speed, late pressure, and one ninth inning Texas won’t forget

Chicago didn’t bludgeon Texas for three straight nights. They manufactured, they ran, they made pitchers sweat, and when the window finally cracked open in the finale… they kicked the door off the hinges.

This series had two defining themes:

Chicago’s running game kept showing up like a subplot that became the main story.

The Sox bullpen/late-game execution mostly held — and then the offense returned the favor with a haymaker in Game 3.

Game 1 — White Sox 4, Rangers 1 (June 19)

Chicago set the tone early, and it came off one clean swing: Tirso Ornelas’ two-run homer in the 2nd turned a tight game into Chicago’s game. From there, it was a methodical squeeze.

On the mound, Mike Vasil delivered exactly what a contender needs on the road: 6 shutout innings, traffic here and there, but no damage. Texas finally nicked a run late, but Chicago answered with two more in the 9th — the kind of tack-on runs that make a closer’s job feel like a stroll instead of a tightrope.

Takeaway: Chicago didn’t just win — they controlled pace. And they started stealing bases like they had a scouting report and a grudge.

Game 2 — Rangers 5, White Sox 1 (June 20)

Texas punched back immediately, and this one lived in the middle innings. Chicago had chances early, but couldn’t cash in, and the Rangers turned their opportunities into a steady drip of runs.

The Sox avoided the shutout in the 9th thanks to Colson Montgomery’s solo shot, but by then Texas had already built the cushion. It was the one game of the series where Chicago looked like the team trying to force the issue instead of dictating it.

Takeaway: Even good teams lose games like this — the difference is what happens the next day.

Game 3 — White Sox 8, Rangers 3 (June 21)

For eight innings, it looked like a heartbreaker.

Jacob deGrom was deGrom: crisp, dominant, and in total control. Texas scratched across a run in the 7th, and heading to the 9th, the White Sox were staring at a 1–0 loss despite getting strong work from Grant Taylor.

Then the ninth happened.

Chicago didn’t just rally — they suffocated Texas with pressure:

walks,

steals,

extra bases on mistakes,

and then the knockout: Eguy Rosario’s grand slam that turned a close game into a sudden Arlington horror show.

Texas got two runs back in the bottom of the 9th, but the competitive portion of the night ended the moment Rosario’s ball left the yard.

Takeaway: This was the kind of win that changes how a clubhouse feels on a flight out. One swing can flip a series — and Chicago got it at the exact right time.

The headline performers

Tirso Ornelas: delivered early in the series and showed up again when Chicago needed offense to wake up.

Mike Vasil: set the series tone with six scoreless in the opener.

Grant Taylor: kept the finale close long enough for the offense to land the finishing blow.

Eguy Rosario: one moment, one swing — and suddenly it’s a signature series win.

Standings note: Chicago stays in control

At 40–31, the White Sox remain 1st in the AL Central, holding off a Twins team lurking right behind. The Rangers, at 39–32, are still very much in it — but Chicago stole the series and a bit of oxygen.

News / Transactions (June 22)

A little roster churn immediately after the series:

SS Nasim Nunez optioned to AAA Charlotte

SS William Bergolla recalled from AA Birmingham

Top prospect 2B Dave Conley promoted to Low-A Kannapolis

That’s movement that reads like a front office staying aggressive — rewarding performance, and not letting the roster get stale.

[XxVols98xX]

Dodger Stadium tried to turn this into a “welcome to the big stage” week for Chicago.

Instead, the White Sox walked out of Los Angeles with a signature series under their belt — the kind that tells the clubhouse (and the rest of the league) they belong in the same sentence as the Dodgers. Three games, three wildly different scripts, and one loud takeaway: Chicago can win ugly, win loud, and even when it finally stumbled, it didn’t blink.

By the time the getaway day dust settled, the Sox stood at 42-32, while the Dodgers — still the measuring stick — sat at 46-29.

Game 1 (June 23): White Sox 6, Dodgers 5 (12 innings) — the “refuse to fold” win

This one had every opportunity to spiral.

Los Angeles jumped Shane Smith early — Ohtani’s 21st homer plus a three-run blast from James Outman detonated the third inning and had the Sox staring up at a 5-1 hole. Dustin May had enough movement to keep Chicago chasing, and Dodger Stadium had that “here we go again” energy.

Then Colson Montgomery changed the mood with one swing: a 450-foot solo shot in the fifth that didn’t win the game, but absolutely re-opened it.

The real gut-punch came in the seventh, when Chicago finally got its hands on the leverage arms:

Eguy Rosario worked a walk, stole third.

Edgar Quero punched a single.

Montgomery ripped a two-run double to tie it at 5.

Eliezer Alfonzo dropped an infield hit to keep the inning alive.

A sac fly brought home the tying run and turned the place quiet.

From there, it became a bullpen brawl. Ky Bush and Brandon Eisert stabilized the middle innings, and then Edwin Díaz slammed the door in extras, striking out big bats with the automatic runner looming every frame.

In the 12th, Luis Robert Jr. delivered the separator — a go-ahead RBI double — and the Sox finally cashed the kind of win that good teams steal on the road.

Player of the Game: Colson Montgomery (power early, table-setter late, and the biggest hit before the final punch)

Game 2 (June 24): White Sox 8, Dodgers 0 — the “statement” win

The middle game looked like Chicago grabbed the controller and turned the difficulty down.

Against Shohei Ohtani on the mound, the Sox blitzed the first inning with patience and pressure:

Walks to set the table.

Montgomery’s two-run double to open the scoring.

Josh Salmonson’s RBI single to make it 3-0 before LA could even breathe.

And then the pitching took over. Victor Mendez carved up the Dodgers for five hitless innings, and the Sox layered it with Drew Thorpe to finish the job. LA’s lineup — Betts, Freeman, Ohtani, Bregman — spent the afternoon getting fed empty swings and routine outs.

Offensively, Chicago kept adding:

Eguy Rosario’s two-run homer pushed it out of reach.

Montgomery went full headliner again with a solo HR as the knockout punctuation.

Only sour note: Salmonson left injured while running the bases, a moment that briefly sucked the air out of a game that otherwise felt like Chicago announcing itself in neon.

Final vibe: total control. No drama. Just dominance.

Game 3 (June 25): Dodgers 6, White Sox 2 — Snell and LA finally land a counterpunch

After two games of Sox momentum, the Dodgers came out with playoff-edge urgency — and Blake Snell looked like a man trying to personally make the series 2-1 instead of 3-0.

Los Angeles struck early and kept stacking:

Freddie Freeman launched a solo shot.

Teoscar Hernández added one of his own.

The Dodgers kept forcing traffic and cashing it in, pushing the lead to 6-0.

Chicago’s response was gritty, if late. In the seventh, Montgomery sparked chaos with a walk, then turned it into a run with pure aggression — stealing second and third before Robert Jr. poked home the first run. Alfonzo followed with an RBI double to make it 6-2, but the comeback never got the big swing it needed.

The Dodgers bullpen closed it, and the Sox took their first real punch of the series — then kept walking forward.

Series takeaways

Colson Montgomery looked built for this. Big extra-base hits in the opener, damage again in the blowout, and he was still creating pressure in the loss. He didn’t just produce — he dictated innings.

Chicago’s bullpen showed October traits in Game 1. Holding that lineup scoreless through extras with the ghost runner in play is the kind of thing contenders do.

When the Sox offense gets selective, it’s scary. LA’s arms lived in bad counts in Games 1 and 2, and Chicago made them pay.

The Salmonson injury is the cloud to monitor. That’s the one development from LA that could ripple forward.

If this series was a measuring tape, the White Sox didn’t come up short. They went into the Dodgers’ park, played three different kinds of games, and proved they can win in more than one way — which is usually the last box a contender checks.

[XxVols98xX]

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.

[XxVols98xX]

White Sox vs. Yankees Series Recap (Rate Field)

Final: White Sox take the series, 2–1 — and they didn’t do it quietly. Chicago split the first two games in blowout fashion, then stole the finale with a ninth-inning patience clinic that left New York staring at a bases-loaded walk-off.

At series end: White Sox 46–34, Yankees 48–33.

Game 1 — White Sox 10, Yankees 0 (June 30)

This one was over early and buried late.

Chicago jumped Carlos Rodón immediately with loud contact and pressure: doubles from Eliezer Alfonzo and Luis Robert Jr., plus Robert creating chaos on the bases (including a steal-and-error sequence that turned into another run). The Sox were up 3–0 after one, added on in the third, and then detonated the game in the 8th.

That eighth inning was a full-blown avalanche: Alfonzo’s bases-clearing triple flipped the stadium, then Eguy Rosario followed with a solo homer to slam the door.

Star of the night:

Eliezer Alfonzo: 2-for-5, 3 RBI, triple + extra-base damage all game

Luis Robert Jr.: 3 hits, 2 RBI (and constant pressure)

Eguy Rosario: 2 runs + HR

On the mound:

Victor Mendez: 4.0 scoreless, 1 hit allowed — set the tone

The bullpen finished the job: no runs, no drama, shutout sealed.

Game 2 — Yankees 12, White Sox 2 (July 1)

New York hit back like a contender.

The Yankees landed the first punch in the opening inning — Christian Walker’s three-run homer made it 3–0 before Chicago could settle in — and the game never tilted back. New York kept stacking baserunners all night (a ton of traffic via walks), and the Sox spent nine innings trying to put out a fire that kept finding gasoline.

Big bats for New York:

Christian Walker: centerpiece of everything (HR + multiple big swings)

Anthony Volpe: on-base machine at the top

The Yankees’ lineup pressure showed up inning after inning.

For Chicago:

Eguy Rosario and Kyle Teel gave some fight offensively, but it was a tough night to string rallies together against Max Fried, who controlled the middle innings.

Game 3 — White Sox 3, Yankees 2 (July 2)

The finale played like October: tight, tense, and decided by who blinked first.

New York struck first on a Jasson Domínguez solo homer, but Chicago answered with Eguy Rosario’s solo shot in the 2nd. Then the game turned into a duel — until Colson Montgomery ripped a solo homer in the 6th to put the Sox up 2–1.

Naturally, the Yankees weren’t going quietly: Giancarlo Stanton tied it in the 7th with a solo homer, and suddenly every pitch felt like it weighed 50 pounds.

Then came the ninth, and Chicago won it without a hit — just nerve.

The Walk-Off Sequence (Bottom 9)

Montgomery works a walk, then steals second and third

Yankees intentionally walk Rosario

Yankees intentionally walk Chase Meidroth

Josh Salmonson (pinch-hitting) draws the bases-loaded walk

Ballgame. Series. Rate Field roaring.

Unsung hero: team approach — that inning was pure composure and pressure.

On the mound:

Jonathan Cannon: 6 strong innings, kept Judge/Walker in check most of the night

Chicago survived a messy bridge (and an injury scare with Penn Murfee)

Edwin Díaz slammed the door just long enough to set up the walk-off.

Series Themes (Why it mattered)

Chicago proved it can trade punches with the class of the AL. A shutout win, a blowout loss, then a playoff-style one-run win is a pretty good “measuring stick” sandwich.

The Sox speed + patience combo is a problem. Robert pressuring early, Montgomery stealing bags late — that’s how teams steal wins even when hits are scarce.

The Yankees’ firepower is real. When they get traffic, they can bury you in a hurry — Game 2 was the warning label.