CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox halted their four-game losing streak with a decisive 6-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday night at Rate Field. Andrew Vaughn led the charge with a game-tying solo home run, showcasing his determination to bounce back from a rough start to the season.
The White Sox, who entered the game with an alarming 11-28 record, quickly fell behind when the Marlins scored in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Xavier Edwards drew a walk, stole second, and then came home on Jesús Sánchez's single, putting Miami up 1-0 early. However, the Sox responded in the second inning. Vaughn crushed a fastball 403 feet into right-center field for his fourth home run of the season, leveling the score at 1-1. This was a much-needed boost for Vaughn, who has struggled at the plate this season, posting a .188 batting average prior to the game.
Following Vaughn's homer, the White Sox took the lead when Michael A. Taylor hit a line-drive double that brought home Brooks Baldwin, who had been hit by a pitch earlier in the inning. This put Chicago ahead 2-1, a lead they managed to hold until the seventh inning.
Miami tied the game in the seventh with a solo homer from Liam Hicks, marking the Marlins' third home run in as many games. Hicks's blast off Caleb Freeman brought the score to 2-2, but the White Sox were not done yet. In the bottom of the seventh, they sent nine batters to the plate, scoring three runs to take control of the game.
Josh Rojas sparked the rally with a leadoff single, and Lenyn Sosa followed with a double, putting runners on second and third with no outs. Brooks Baldwin then hit a sacrifice fly, allowing Rojas to tag up and score, giving the Sox a 3-2 lead. The White Sox continued to capitalize on Miami's pitching struggles as Jacob Amaya executed a perfect squeeze bunt to score Sosa, extending the lead to 4-2. The inning concluded with Matt Thaiss drawing a bases-loaded walk against Ronny Henriquez, bringing in another run.
"I've seen the same thing from them every single day," said White Sox manager Will Venable. "We come to the ballpark excited, expecting to play well, expecting to win. And that's the vibe I get today." Venable's faith in his team was evident as they rallied after a disheartening sweep at Kansas City, where they had been outscored 19-4.
In the eighth inning, the White Sox added an insurance run when Rojas reached on an error by the Marlins' third baseman. He moved to third on Sosa's single and scored on a wild pitch, pushing the lead to 6-2.
White Sox starter Bryse Wilson had a solid outing, pitching five innings, allowing just one run on three hits while walking two and striking out one. His performance was a significant improvement after struggling in previous games. "It was good. I executed a lot more pitches," Wilson said. "I finally kind of felt like I have the past couple years and just kind of got in a rhythm."
Cam Booser (1-3) earned his first win with the White Sox after coming in to relieve Freeman in the seventh inning. He recorded two outs and helped maintain the lead through the end of the game. The White Sox bullpen ultimately held strong, with Steven Wilson closing out the game in the ninth.
Despite Miami out-hitting the White Sox 7-5, their inability to capitalize in crucial moments was evident as they went 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base. This marked the Marlins' 10th loss in their last 12 games, further complicating their season.
Looking ahead, the White Sox will face the Marlins again on Saturday night. Miami's Edward Cabrera (0-1, 6.29 ERA) is set to pitch against Chicago's Shane Smith (1-2, 2.41 ERA). The White Sox are hoping to build momentum from this victory as they seek to improve their standing in the league.
In exciting news for White Sox fans, Tim Elko is being called up to the big leagues after an impressive stint with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, where he hit .348 with a 1.101 OPS and 10 home runs in 31 games. The 26-year-old first baseman has been a highly anticipated addition to the roster, and his promotion is expected to provide a much-needed boost to the struggling lineup.
As the White Sox look to turn their season around, Friday's win against the Marlins serves as a reminder of their potential and resilience. With the right mindset and continued effort, they aim to climb out of the cellar of the league standings and make a push for better results in the weeks ahead.
