Sean Burke pitched a gem while the offense put on a small ball masterclass

The White Sox win 4-1 in the first game against the Rangers

The White Sox struck early and maintained the lead for the rest of the night, as it turns out that even a good Rangers pitcher is no match for the Friday night City Connects power. Yes, the White Sox are 4-0 on Friday nights at home.

Sean Burke started the game by giving up a walk to Sam Haggerty, then back-to-back strikeouts. Josh Jung drew a walk to add a little drama for old friend Jake Burger, but Burke got Burger to strike out swinging.

In his first game back, Mike Tauchman singled with one out. The Rangers attempted a strike ’em out/throw ’em out play with Miguel Vargas, and Tauchman was initially called safe with the ball coming out of the glove. But due to batter’s interference, Tauchman was called out after all to end the first.

Texas kept it quiet for the top of the third. Lenyn Sosa, on the other hand, opened the bottom of the frame with a hit, and Josh Rojas singled and sent Sosa to third. Tauchman reached yet again, this time via a walk, to load the bases with one out. Tyler Mahle, who is allegedly really good, walked Vargas for another run. Benintendi then knocked in another run on a sac fly. In the fourth ball hit towards Haggerty Luis Robert Jr. singled, sending yet another runner home, and following up with a stolen base.

The short-lived no-hitter ended in the fourth when Jung hit a one-out double, but that was all the Rangers could do.

Burke shut Texas down for the top of the fifth. Chase Meidroth extended his hit streak to 10 games with a leadoff single in the bottom half, but was left on base.

Giving up just his second hit of the night, Burke allowed a two-out single to Wyatt Langford and walked his nemesis, Jung. Burger crushed a ball for an RBI double, but Robert was there to scoop up the ball and get it to Edgar Quero, who in turn got Jung out at the plate, in a controversial and close call. The Good Guys still had the lead, 3-1 — a big improvement from 3-2 and the inning still going.

Robert managed another break from poor fielding, as Aroldis García flubbed an easy pop fly to right, and due to his immense speed Robert made it all the way to third. Joshua Palacios then drove Robert in to regain a three-run lead.

Cam Booser came in for the seventh to replace the phenomenal Burke, who kept the Rangers in check. Booser followed in his footsteps, but with a little help from Tauchman.

This catch would’ve killed Eloy Jiménez:

Jung, who went 4-for-4 this evening, picked up a one-out walk in the ninth and continued to be a pain in the ass for the Sox. Thankfully, it wouldn’t be enough, and the Good Guys walked away with a win after losing 11 in a row to the Rangers (including 0-7 in 2024).

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Futility Watch

White Sox 2025 Record 16-35, tied for the second-worst start in White Sox history and tied for the 69th-worst start in baseball history. A 16-35 record projects to 51-111 over a full season. A year ago, the record-breaking White Sox were 15-36.

All-Time White Sox Record (1901-2025, 19,257 games) 9,610-9,647 (.4990). It’s been 95 games since the White Sox had an all-time winning record.

Record Since the New Pope Was Revealed as a White Sox Fan 6-7

• Race to the Worst “Modern” 162-Game Record (2024 White Sox, 41-121)
• Race to the Worst “Modern” Record in a 162-Game Season (1962 Mets, 40-120-1, finished three percentage points worse than the 2024 White Sox)
• Race to the Most White Sox Losses (2024, 121)
• Race to the Worst White Sox Record (2024, 41-121)

10 games better, in all cases

Race to the Worst Post-1899 Record (1916 A’s, 38-124 adjusted to 162 games) 13 games better

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