The Chicago White Sox entered their City Series matchup against the Chicago Cubs with 49 runs since the All-Star break, the most in the majors during that stretch.
It did not take long to add to that total Friday night at Rate Field.
Chase Meidroth led off the bottom of the first with a home run against Shota Imanaga. That was the first of five hits during a three-run inning.
The Sox added two runs in the second, including a solo home run from Colson Montgomery, and they were well on their way to clobbering the Cubs 12-5 in front of a sellout crowd of 38,762.
The Sox hit four home runs, three off Imanaga, to continue their offensive onslaught. They’ve scored at least seven runs in six of their seven games since returning from the break and have reached double digits four times. They are 6-1 in that stretch.
“I don’t know if anyone saw this coming,” manager Will Venable said. “We’re certainly pleased with the effort these guys have put in the whole year. And now to get the results to follow up with that has been nice for our group.”
Adrian Houser benefited from Friday’s outburst. He did his part as well to keep the comfortable lead, allowing three runs on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 6 2/3 innings.
“I think Q (catcher Edgar Quero) and I were on the same page for the whole night,” Houser said.
While Houser clicked on the mound, the Sox went to work at the plate. They established a season high with 18 hits, topping the previous mark of 15. It was also a season high for runs, with 11 as the previous best.
Quero went 4-for-5, joining Meidroth and Kyle Teel as Sox rookies with four-hit performances since returning from the All-Star break.
Photos: White Sox 12, Cubs 5 at Rate Field
“We feel pretty good,” Quero said. “I know those guys, we can hit. We come ready to hit, we’re doing the work with (hitting coach) Marcus (Thames) and everybody.”
Meidroth and Miguel Vargas both had three hits. Lenyn Sosa had two hits and three RBIs.
“We each build off each other,” Meidroth said. “It’s momentum we’ve had for the last week. We want to keep building off that. It’s a really good club. It’s fun. You have to celebrate your wins.”
White Sox right fielder Mike Tauchman heads for the plate after hitting a two-run home run off Cubs reliever Chris Flexen in the fourth inning on July 25, 2025, at Rate Field. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Five of the first six Sox hitters collected hits in the first inning. Meidroth began the offensive explosion with a bang, the home run to left. Sosa had a two-run single later in the inning.
Montgomery began the second with the home run to right. It was his third straight game with a homer, becoming the first Sox rookie to accomplish the feat since Daniel Palka from Sept. 16-19, 2018.
“He just continues to take good swings at good pitches,” Venable said. “You just look at a guy who’s making good decisions at the plate and putting himself on time and a good spot to get good swings off also. He’s got it all clicking right now.”
Austin Slater led off the fourth with a home run, making it 6-0. Mike Tauchman hit a two-run blast later in the inning against former Sox pitcher Chris Flexen. The Sox scored four in the fourth to take a commanding 9-0 lead.
“We went into the game with a great approach,” said Slater, who had two hits. “We were super aggressive and just kept the momentum going from the last two series and just pass the baton.
“It just starts with confidence. You start to see a couple fall, and as an offense you start to see the guy behind you or the guy in front of you barrel the baseball and I think it gives a little confidence to each guy on the team. That’s how it’s been going probably the last seven games. Hopefully we can keep going.”
Quero and Vargas had RBI hits in the fifth as the Sox scored more than 10 runs for the second consecutive game following Wednesday’s 11-9 win against the Tampa Bay Rays.
“We were on a mission when we came back,” Meidroth said. “We are playing together and play for each other. This has been a long time coming I feel like. It’s been really fun to put it all together this last week. We have to keep things rolling. A week is just a short part of the season.”
Originally Published: July 25, 2025 at 7:29 PM CDT