CHICAGO -- Miguel Vargas was not happy.
Certainly none of the White Sox were thrilled after being swept by the Cubs at Wrigley Field via a 6-2 setback Sunday, completing a 26-8 North Side weekend domination. But Vargas was more focused on one moment from his team’s fourth straight loss, dropping them to a season-low 19 games under .500 at 14-33: when he was hit by a Brad Keller pitch with two outs in the eighth.
That four-seam fastball at 95.5 mph caught Vargas near the left shoulder and he immediately looked to the mound. In fact, Vargas pretty much stared down Keller as he walked to first in a moment coming two at-bats after he launched a game-tying home run in the fourth.
Matters grew a bit more heated after Andrew Vaughn flied out to right to end the inning, as Vargas said something to Keller, who smiled in response while going toward the Cubs’ dugout. Vargas was quickly calmed down by third-base coach Justin Jirschele, the umpires and even Pete Crow-Armstrong as he came in from center field.
So, what did Vargas exactly say to Keller? The answer the White Sox third baseman provided probably was as entertaining as the truth.
“I just wanted to know what was his favorite restaurant,” Vargas said. “I asked him about it."
And what was Keller’s response?
"He didn't say anything,” Vargas said. “I guess the guys from the bench said more about him than him."
Keller has found a relief resurgence with the Cubs, featuring a 2.91 ERA following Sunday’s scoreless effort. But the veteran right-hander also made five appearances and two starts with the White Sox in 2024, where he got to know a number of players still on the team.
There was no intent with the pitch, made clear by Keller postgame. He was a bit surprised by Vargas’ reaction.
“I’m just trying to get out of the inning as quick as I possibly can,” Keller said. “I definitely didn’t do anything on purpose. I didn’t try to throw at him or anything like that. He just took exception to it. It’s a four-run game.
“We’ve got some guys down in the bullpen, so I’m just trying to get through my inning. I’m not trying to do anything different or something that’s going to jeopardize me getting out of that game or get tossed. That’s definitely not something I would want to do. There was no intent behind it. I just ran a fastball in on accident, it hit him and I, personally, didn’t understand why he was so upset about it.”
Although he had no idea of Keller’s explanation when asked postgame, Vargas had a different take.
“You guys saw what happened. I don't have to explain the whole scenario. You guys know what happened,” Vargas said. “I guess you face the price for doing good at the plate. It is what it is. I just try to go out there and compete.”
“No one likes to get hit by 98 miles an hour or whatever,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “Whatever happened, happened. It was just some miscommunication.”
But Sunday’s fun didn’t stop there. The top of the ninth was delayed when the usually good-natured Jirschele got into an on-field argument with third-base umpire Brennan Miller. Warnings were issued to both sides after the Vargas and Keller exchange, with Jirschele standing up for his crew as the Cubs did a little chirping from the home dugout.
Order was restored, as Venable raced out from the dugout, and Julian Merryweather closed out the Cubs’ eighth straight win over the White Sox overall -- and sixth straight at Wrigley -- for a 75-74 all-time series lead.
“Vargas was upset he got hit. There was probably some chirping from our side,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “Boys playing baseball."
Many of the White Sox players took part in their first Crosstown Cup, which the Cubs retained through the sweep. Some players, such as Jonathan Cannon (2-5), Sunday’s starting and losing pitcher for the White Sox, took in Wrigley Field for the first time.
The Cubs were the better team, but mistakes didn’t make life easier for the White Sox. It’s the sort of high-energy, high-emotion experience the White Sox can process and use for the future.
“Even though those games kind of got out of hand a little bit, I felt like we were in them for a lot of it,” Cannon said. “They didn’t make those mistakes and they were able to come out on top. Just some mistakes that I think that moving forward, if we don’t make them, then we’ll be in a lot more games and win a lot more games.”