CHICAGO -- The date was Sept. 3, 1995.
Bill Clinton was president of the United States. Seinfeld was the top-rated television show. Mortal Kombat was the No. 1 grossing movie, and the White Sox had just completed a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays in Chicago.
It took the South Siders over 30 years to accomplish that same feat once again. By virtue of their 3-0 victory Sunday at Rate Field before 22,326 fans, the White Sox won for a third straight time this weekend against the defending American League champions and improved to 4-5 overall.
Make that 1-5 on the road and 3-0 at home, marking the first time the White Sox have started 3-0 in Chicago since 2004. That ‘04 campaign was Ozzie Guillen’s first year as manager, with Guillen now set to get his No. 13 jersey retired on Aug. 8 of this season.
“To have our fans, with the way they came out and supported us, to have that energy means a lot,” said White Sox manager Will Venable of the raucous home crowds. “The players responded, and it feels really good to play well for them.”
Davis Martin (2-0) earned the victory working six scoreless innings, which is a season high to date for a White Sox starter and marked the team’s first quality start in ‘26. The right-hander struck out six, walked two and allowed four hits.
After 85 pitches, Martin gave way to Bryan Hudson, Jordan Leasure and Chris Murphy (first save). It was a group effort to get to the finish line with closer Seranthony Domínguez and Grant Taylor unavailable.
Clutch two-out hitting also came into play. Miguel Vargas’ triple in the first scored Chase Meidroth, while Lenyn Sosa’s double in the third and Austin Hays’ single in the fourth also brought home runs with two gone.
“It’s huge,” said Venable of the two-out hitting. “Just continue to grind, put good at-bats together. … Today was an example of each guy just not trying to do too much, kind of taking what the opposition was giving us. Just continue to battle, and good things can happen even with two outs.”
Martin’s biggest point of trouble came in the top of the third with the bases loaded and two outs. Addison Barger grounded one up the middle, with the ball claimed by shortstop Tanner Murray near the outfield grass, almost where the second baseman plays. He threw to Munetaka Murakami after making a full spin, with Murakami stretching to grab the ball out of the dirt and make the play before Barger hit first base.
Murray finished his Major League debut with this tremendous defensive play and an 0-for-2 showing at the plate. He arrived Saturday night in Chicago from Nashville, where Triple-A Charlotte was playing, replacing outfielder Everson Pereira, who hit the 10-day injured list with a right ankle sprain.
“I called my mom,” said Murray before the game, about who he talked with after news of the promotion. “She was with my grandma, and she started crying, and I started tearing up as well. And then I called my dad and then my girlfriend.
“Fun, great atmosphere,” added Murray after the win. “Fans were awesome. Got the win. Got to participate, and it was awesome. Couldn’t ask for anything better.”
White Sox hurlers held Toronto to a .188 average with five extra-base hits during this weekend run. They made stellar defensive plays, such as Murray’s and center fielder Luisangel Acuña’s diving grab in the second. They came through with clutch hits and received help across their pitching staff.
That sort of team-first demeanor is what will guide the White Sox to any sort of increased success in ‘26. That style was absent during their woeful start on the road.
“You look at that road trip, and you could say that this season, all the momentum we've had, all the excitement we've had all offseason, if that carries into this homestand, you could say that it might be too much to overcome,” Martin said. “But we all came together as a group and collectively locked the hatches and said, 'Here we go, let's put our head down, let's work.' It's gigantic.
“Winning the series was going to be great, but a sweep is even better. Just kind of continue to do that stuff that we've been doing and continue to trust our way of playing baseball and going forward, just having fun."
Maybe their fun extends into the Baltimore series beginning Monday, with Grant Taylor opening for a third time in four games.
“We're ready to play hard every day,” said catcher Edgar Quero, who turns 23 on Monday. “Right now we're in a good spot.”