SAN FRANCISCO -- White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas will follow a different preparatory path to avoid another rough “sun day” when Sunday actually arrives for the deciding game of this weekend series with the Giants and the finale of the South Siders’ six-game West Coast road trip.
The sun wreaked havoc on the visitors and specifically Vargas, the heart and soul and best overall player from this surprising White Sox squad, during a 10-3 loss at Oracle Park on Saturday. The Giants scored six runs in the fifth inning, after the White Sox (26-25) rallied for three game-tying runs in the top of the frame, with San Francisco’s success aided by two sun-related Vargas snafus.
“It was a tough day with the sun,” said Vargas, who contributed offensively with two hits and an RBI. “For sure that inning for me was very tough to see the ball. I think I could do better and put the team in a better spot.”
“These plays happen,” said White Sox manager Will Venable of Vargas. “It's unfortunate, and no one feels as bad about it as Vargy, but he always does the right thing, and he's our guy.”
Casey Schmitt put the Giants in front with a two-run home run off Erick Fedde in that fifth, as Fedde was in his fourth inning of bulk work after Bryan Hudson retired the first four as the opener. One out later, Matt Chapman reached on what was ruled a double after Vargas lost the ball at the last moment a few feet behind third.
Fedde walked Daniel Susac and Bryce Eldridge, loading the bases with two outs for Harrison Bader and bringing Jordan Leasure into the game. Leasure rejoined the White Sox from Triple-A Charlotte on Saturday after Jordan Hicks was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right lat strain. The righty appeared to make the perfect 1-0 pitch to induce an inning-ending foul popup toward third from Bader.
Vargas came down the line, but once again couldn’t find the ball as it dropped near his feet. Three pitches later, on a 3-1 count, Bader connected for his second grand slam in May.
“Yeah, the first one I was trying to get on the ball, trying to follow it. I didn’t see it at any point,” Vargas said. “The second was even harder. I guess I could do a better job on stuff for me, because I could [have] put the team in a better spot for the game today. We learn and move forward.”
When asked for that sort of different approach Sunday, with a similar 3:05 p.m. CT first pitch and sunny skies in the forecast, Vargas said he will wear sunglasses. He started with them Saturday but did not have them in the fifth. The White Sox had a third sun-related drop from Munetaka Murakami in the sixth -- an overall issue discussed within the team before the series began -- but they were able to throw out Rafael Devers at first.
“In the first couple of innings, it was tough for me to watch the baseball off the bat,” Vargas said. “I decided to try to not wear [sunglasses] and see if I can see better. I guess it wasn’t the right decision.”
Over 3 1/3 innings, Fedde allowed eight runs on 10 hits, raising his ERA to 5.47. Venable expressed postgame confidence in the veteran right-hander, adding he continues to throw strikes and pitch meaningful innings.
Hagen Smith, the No. 4 White Sox prospect and No. 50 overall, per MLB Pipeline, is the fans’ choice to join the rotation at any spot sooner than later. The southpaw has 47 strikeouts over 33 2/3 innings and a .186 average against in 10 starts for Triple-A Charlotte. But he also has issued 27 walks and features a 1.46 WHIP and a 4.54 ERA.
“He’s been healthy up to this point this year. He’s taking the ball every single time out, which is obviously a big deal,” said White Sox director of player development Paul Janish while talking about Smith before Saturday’s setback. “I know talking to Hagen himself, he will tell you he’s frustrated with his consistency.
“His production has actually been fine. It’s not like he’s pitching poorly necessarily. It’s just the expectations are high with him and he has it just like we do. It’s just an issue of getting more reps. He hasn’t had any really bad days. He just has had bad innings if that makes sense. He would be the first one to admit that.”
For now, the White Sox are keeping Smith going in the right direction and hoping for literally less brighter days ahead at the Major League level.