CHICAGO – At 6:40 p.m. CT, Sean Burke threw the first pitch against the Rays Wednesday night in the right-hander’s return to Rate Field and the White Sox following a three-week stint with Triple-A Charlotte.
Seven pitchers later, or eight in total, the White Sox locked down a 6-5 victory for their eighth win in 10 games. Their 56-90 record means they need a 7-9 finish to avoid a third straight campaign with 100 losses.
But the second of this three-game set was more about who the White Sox returned and lost as much as the positive on-field results. Manager Will Venable needed to go with three pitchers to protect a one-run lead in the ninth with Grant Taylor departing after seven pitches (two strikes) due to a right groin strain. Taylor will be further evaluated on Thursday, with an MRI as part of the process.
Wikelman Gonzalez replaced Taylor and struck out Yandy Diaz for the second out, keeping runners at second and third. Tyler Gilbert then fanned Brandon Lowe for the third and final out.
“Yeah, a lot going on out there,” Venable said. “Nice to get that one, total team effort, really nice win for the guys.
“A tough spot, you know, second and third with one out, with a really good hitter and a really good contact hitter up, and Wikelman did a great job. When you're put in that spot where you have to adjust and be flexible, these guys did a great job stepping up.”
Burke, who was the team’s Opening Day starter, made three starts for Charlotte before coming back to the White Sox. His work paid off as he hit 99.8 mph, per Statcast, with his four-seamer in the first inning and felt good about his stuff with the changes incorporated.
He also was able to pitch out of a second-inning jam after walking the bases loaded with nobody out by striking out Carson Williams and inducing a double-play grounder from the ultra-fast Chandler Simpson turned adeptly by shortstop Colson Montgomery. Although he didn’t factor in the decision, Burke allowed three runs over 4 1/3 innings with five strikeouts and four walks and would like to stay a part of the rotation for the final 16 games.
“Yeah, I hope so,” said Burke with a laugh. “It was fun. It was exciting. I almost felt like I was kind of debuting for a second time being back up, just happy. I'm obviously following along, seeing these guys playing really good ball the last couple weeks. So just to get back up here and help join that and help them win has been fun.”
“Walks put him in a tough spot,” Venable said of Burke. “Did a nice job getting some pitches on the ground there, big double play early on to get us out of it. … Saw a really good fastball from him, which was nice.”
The White Sox followed with five runs on five hits in the bottom of the second, started by Miguel Vargas’ single and finished off by Lenyn Sosa’s two-run double. Vargas came from the 10-day injured list Wednesday after landing there with a sprained left hand sustained colliding with Aaron Judge in going for a throw at first on Aug. 28.
Vargas made two great plays at third base, ending the top of the eighth by fielding Christopher Morel’s ground ball with a 107.7 mph exit velocity, per Statcast, and starting a double play.
“To be back in the field and help the team to win, it means a lot to me,” Vargas said. “At the moment [of the injury], it was a little scary. But after it happened, I always stay positive and think about getting back as soon as I can. Obviously back in the game, I have to get back on the rhythm. But it feels good. It feels great.”
Tampa Bay (72-73) fought back with three in the fifth and one in the sixth, but the White Sox still put themselves in position for their 17th series win. They also can move to .500 after the All-Star break at 25-25 with a victory Thursday afternoon.
They will continue to fight without Luis Robert Jr., who Venable said pregame is running out of time to come back from a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. But the White Sox also have some reinforcements to continue this good vibe.
“I’ve said that before, but for the second half, we’ve been playing so much better baseball,” Vargas said. “We are all together and trying to get good results. We are all happy. It’s good to win games.”