TAMPA, Fla. — Chicago White Sox left fielder Brooks Baldwin wanted to be aggressive early as he made his way to the plate with two on and two outs in the second inning on Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
“I knew the Rays’ philosophy is kind of getting ahead early with strike one,” Baldwin said. “So just being on the fastball first-pitch, looking middle, middle-in.”
Baldwin jumped on a first-pitch inside fastball from starter Shane Baz, connecting for a three-run home run.
“He threw it middle-in and just put a good swing on it,” Baldwin said.
The power surge continued for the Sox in the fifth when Miguel Vargas blasted a two-run home run.
It was another big night at the plate for the Sox, who pounded the Rays 8-3 in front of a sellout crowd of 10,046 at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
“We’ve been missing slug all year,” manager Will Venable said. “It’s really nice to have. That’s how you score runs and in bunches, so credit to our guys for having good approaches and getting some good swings off.”
The Sox have won four straight — a season high. They are 4-0 since returning from the All-Star break, and have scored at least seven runs in each game.
Chicago White Sox pitcher Sean Burke throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Monday, July 21, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
“Playing together, hitting together, pitching together,” Sox shortstop Chase Meidroth said. “We’re doing everything together right now, and I think that’s awesome. It’s fun to be a part of.”
It’s the first time the Sox have won four straight coming out of the break since 2005, when they began the second half with five consecutive victories.
Baldwin began Monday’s scoring with the three-run home run in the second, his fifth of the season.
Luis Robert Jr. had a two-run single in the third, extending the lead to 5-0. Colson Montgomery collected an RBI on a fielder’s choice later in the inning.
The two-run home run by Vargas in the fifth made it 8-2. It’s the second straight day Vargas homered. He hit a three-run home run in the first inning of Sunday’s series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Sox have hit two home runs in three of their four games after the All-Star break.
“It’s never one guy with our lineup,” Baldwin said. “You never know who’s going to contribute that night and it’s nice to see when pitchers contribute and hitters in the lineup contribute as well.”
Sox starter Sean Burke battled through the warm elements while trying to maintain the lead. The right-hander allowed two runs (zero earned) on three hits with five strikeouts and four walks in four-plus innings.
“I felt good,” Burke said. “Just sweaty, honestly, in the first inning or two when the sun was still up (89 degrees at first pitch). Had a little bit of a hard time gripping the ball early on. But as the game went on, it got better. Once the sun went down, it became a little easier.”
He exited after allowing a walk to begin the fifth with the Sox leading 8-2.
“One of the more frustrating outings I’ve had this year,” Burke said. “Just not being able to give us as much length as I would have liked. Especially with the offense being so good, really every game since we’ve come back from break. But a game like this it’s tough to only go four when you’ve got a (big) lead, (wanting to be) able to save the bullpen a little bit, especially a day like this where it’s hot, humid. We are going to need some guys in the next couple of days.
“Happy with the (team) win, but frustrating to not be able to go deeper.”
Five Sox relievers limited the Rays to one run on two hits in the final five innings. Tyler Gilbert picked up the win, striking out two in two-thirds of an inning.
The Sox had 11 hits Monday, with Meidroth going 4-for-5 with three doubles.
“Just put himself in a really good spot consistently,” Venable said of Meidroth. “He put good swings on pitches, battled there. Just was locked in, and nice to see the results.”
Meidroth became the sixth Sox rookie with a three-double game, and the first since Harold Baines on April 20, 1980, against Baltimore.
“Obviously, it feels good,” Meidroth said of the four-hit contest. “But you know, four wins in a row scoring (seven) or more feels a lot better.”
Originally Published: July 21, 2025 at 11:16 PM CDT