Ten hits by the South Siders well offset by 16 Ks
The White Sox fought the good fight, but ultimately went down on strikes instead of tying the game in the ninth. The Astros, unfortunately, took the series with a 4-3 win.
Miguel Vargas drew a one-out walk to give the Astros baserunners early on. Edgar Quero singled, and Vargas slid safely into third after a fielding error by Brendon Rodgers.
With two outs, Luis Robert Jr. was plunked to load the bases, but Tim Elko went down on strikes to end the frame. With two quick outs, Davis Martin gave up a walk to Jose Altuve and followed up with a Yainer Diaz single. But Christian Walker paused the momentum with a pop-up.
With two outs, Vinny Capra singled. Chase Meidroth tried to keep it going, but couldn’t beat the play at first after Jeremy Peña scooped up his ground ball. Martin had a calm 1-2-3 inning.
Vargas started the third with a double after Jake Meyers couldn’t make the grab (and went face-first into the wall). He stole third with one out, and Edgar Quero put the Good Guys on the board with an RBI single.
Peña reached with one out in the bottom of the third on a fielding error, and Paredes picked up a walk, putting two on with one out. After another botched fielding attempt, Altuve doubled, sending two baserunners home and stealing third moments later. Diaz followed up with a double of his own, sending Altuve home and prompting a mound visit. Martin rebounded with back-to-back strikeouts.
Keeping up with the doubles, Michael A. Taylor gave the White Sox their fifth hit of the game but was left stranded. Martin stayed on track with a nine-pitch inning.
Vargas started the fifth with a triple — and ripped his pants in the process:
Quero took a sinker up the middle for his second RBI and third hit of the night, putting the White Sox within one run. Despite having a good night, Framber Valdez had reached 90 pitches before getting to Luis Robert Jr., and the bullpen started warming. He was able to get Tim Elko out of strikes and end the frame:
Valdez finished his night with 12 of his 15 outs by K.
Paredes continued to be a pain for Martin, this time with a solo home run, giving a two-run lead back to the Astros. Altuve followed up with his second double of the game but was ultimately stranded.
Shawn Dubin replaced Valdez and shut the Sox down in order for the start of the sixth. Martin tossed a season-high 100 pitches in keeping Houston quiet for a his final frame. The seventh was similar, with both teams getting easy outs.
Robert picked up his first hit of the night with a one-out single in the eighth but the White Sox struggled to do anything at the plate, leaving him on first. Rookie Grant Taylor gave up back-to-back singles, but followed up with his first big league strikeout for the second out, victimizing Victor Caratini. Taylor escaped the inning unscathed after working his way out of a jam after Cam Smith grounded out.
Down in the count, Mike Tauchman (who had pinch-hit for Michael A. Taylor once Valdez left the game), fought back for a solo home run to start the ninth, the first home run Josh Hader had given up to a lefty since Sept. 22, 2022.
Keeping the inning alive, Vargas missed tying the game by a couple of feet, but managed his second double of the night. Alas, the fight back ended with Austin Slater striking out — his FIFTH on the night, for a platinum sombrero.
Futility Watch 1-2
White Sox 2025 Record: 23-46, tied for second-worst start in White Sox history and tied for the 101st-worst start in baseball history. A 23-46 record projects to 54-108 over a full season. A year ago, the record-breaking White Sox were 17-52.
All-Time White Sox Record (1901-2025, 19,275 games) 9,617-9,658 (.4989). It’s been 113 games since the White Sox had an all-time winning record.
Record Since the New Pope Was Revealed as a White Sox Fan 13-18
- Race to the Worst “Modern” 162-Game Record (2024 White Sox, 41-121)
- Race to the Worst “Modern” Record in a 162-Game Season (1962 Mets, 40-120-1, finished three percentage points worse than the 2024 White Sox)
- Race to the Most White Sox Losses (2024, 121)
- Race to the Worst White Sox Record (2024, 41-121)
13 games better, in all cases
Race to the Worst Post-1899 Record (1916 A’s, 38-124 adjusted to 162 games) 16 games better