CHICAGO — A manager’s challenge during a Major League Baseball game doesn’t always change the complexion of a contest.
But White Sox manager Will Venable’s move in the top of the sixth inning during a 3-1 victory over the Tigers on Saturday afternoon at Rate Field might have altered the South Siders’ 2026 finish for the decidedly better.
With the White Sox clinging to a 2-1 lead and starter Sean Burke facing a bases-loaded, two-out situation, he appeared to throw a wild pitch on a swinging strike from Brett Callahan, allowing Riley Greene to score the tying run from third. The White Sox challenged that the pitch had actually hit Callahan, which would mean the ball was dead on the swing, and the replay overturned the call.
That second chance allowed Burke to strike out Callahan, marking the first White Sox starter to complete six innings since Burke did so on Aug. 21. Burke allowed one run on five hits over six innings, striking out five and walking three, before giving way to Noah Schultz, who struck out four over 1 2/3 innings. Schultz then gave way to Grant Taylor, who recorded the last four outs for his 10th save.
Miguel Vargas was the story aside from Burke and this challenge moment. Vargas homered in the bottom of the sixth to increase the White Sox lead to two and give him a team-high 33 for the season. In the first, Vargas walked, swiped second and scored on Munetaka Murakami’s single against Jackson Jobe for an early White Sox lead.
Vargas became the first player in White Sox history with at least 30 doubles, 30 homers, 20 stolen bases and 100 runs scored in a season, raising his total to 101 runs after Saturday. He joined Luis Robert Jr. (2023) and Magglio Ordonez (2001) as the only White Sox players with 30 doubles, 30 homers and 20 stolen bases in a season and became the first White Sox since Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye in ‘06 to score 100 runs.
This victory improved the White Sox to 79-76 and moved them a half-game behind the Guardians in the American League Central, with Cleveland playing Saturday night. They hold a 1 1/2 game lead over the Rangers for the third Wild Card spot.