White Sox win 8-1 and own 3-game lead for third AL wild-card spot with 6 games remaining

LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune on Sep 20, 2026

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

CHICAGO — The conditions were less than ideal.

But after a nearly four-hour delay, the result was just what the Chicago White Sox needed in their fight for a playoff spot.

The Sox scored three runs in the fourth inning to distance themselves from the Detroit Tigers in an 8-1 victory in front of 21,354 at Rate Field.

Chase Meidroth hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning, helping the Sox take three of four in the series.

“We had time there on our hands and I thought the guys did a really good job after a long delay of being focused and really locked in,” manager Will Venable said.

With Sunday’s victory, the Sox remained one-game behind the first-place Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central. They hold the third AL wild-card spot, leading the Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros by three games.

With six games remaining in the regular season, the Sox magic number to clinch a playoff spot is four.

“Six big ones left, just take it day by day and try to get a win in all of them,” Meidroth said.

Sunday’s game started after a rain delay of 3 hours, 50 minutes. Rain was still falling when Davis Martin delivered the first pitch at 5 p.m.

“You’ve got to accept it,” Martin said of the conditions. “Part of it is everyone’s going to deal with it. (Tigers starter Troy) Melton’s going to deal with it, I’m going to deal with it. So there’s no reason to make an excuse. Just kind of adapt and go as you can.

“It was kind of fun, because I felt like we were playing our own little football game. Kind of brought back some memories to high school football.”

He received early run support in the second inning when Braden Montgomery drove in a run with a double.

The Sox extended the lead with the three-run fourth.

Colson Montgomery led off with a walk and advanced to second on a one-out groundout. Brenton Doyle reached on an infield hit, giving the Sox runners on the corners with two out.

Sam Antonacci drove them both in with a double to right field against Melton. Antonacci scored on a Kyle Teel single against reliever Tyler Holton, giving the Sox a 4-0 lead.

“Just really good at-bats up and down the lineup,” Venable said. “Don’t think it was one guy that really did it, but we really strung together quality at-bats. Melton has been tough on us all year. These guys have seen him a bunch and put together really good at-bats.”

They held the four-run lead when Martin exited with one out and one on in the fifth inning. Hagen Smith walked the first two batters he faced to load the bases. Smith rebounded, striking out Hao-Yu Lee. Riley Greene then grounded out to first baseman Munetaka Murakami to end the threat.

Martin allowed three hits, struck out six and walked two in 4 1/3 scoreless innings. He was dealing with right calf tightness.

“I’ve been dealing with it since April,” Martin said, “so it’s been an on and off thing. Just tonight with the instability on the mound, it was just an added little layer where I was sliding all over the place. Just kind of throbbing pain. Nothing that’s going to hold me long term.

“I’ve been throwing through it all year. Just thought it was wise with where the game was going and Hagen lining up with (Kevin) McGonigle, doing my job, taking the ego out of it, and when it’s my turn to hand the ball over, it’s my turn to hand the ball over. It worked out well for us tonight. We won the game and that’s what it’s all about.”

More offense came for the Sox in the fifth. Colson started the inning with a single. Meidroth followed with the two-run home run to left, his 15th of the season, to make it 6-0.

Murakami drew a bases-loaded walk and Randal Grichuk had a sacrifice fly to center as part of a two-run eighth inning.

Luis Castillo, moved to the bullpen earlier this week, pitched a perfect ninth to wrap up the win.

The Sox are off Monday, followed by three against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium before returning home for the final three games of the season against the Colorado Rockies.

“It’s an exciting time, honestly,” said outfielder Tristan Peters, who pinch ran and scored a run in eighth in his first action since exiting Friday with a left shoulder/rib bruise.

“This is why we play, this is what every kid dreams of. A pennant race, and what a great team to do it with.”

____