CHICAGO- San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease didn’t have the reunion he was hoping for against the Chicago White Sox, his former club of five seasons, when he took the mound against them Friday night at Rate Field in Chicago. 

This was the first time that Cease faced the White Sox after being traded from Chicago to the Padres as part of a five-player deal in March 2024. 

Cease was one of the better pitches in Major League Baseball in his time with the White Sox. In 123 starts with Chicago Cease recorded a 43-35 record with an ERA of 3.83 and a WHIP of 1.31. Cease has struggled somewhat more in his time with the Padres, save for the most significant achievement of his career: a no-hitter on July 25, 2024. 

Cease’s night started out rough after a single by Colson Montogmery brought up Miguel Vargas with one runner on in the bottom of the first. Vargas got.a hold of a 2-1 slider at the bottom of the zone from Cease and sent it flying for a two-run home run to put the White Sox ahead 2-0. 

The Padres gave their pitcher some support later and eventually tied up the game at two, but the bottom of the fourth brought more troubles for the former Chicago hurler on the mound. 

Cease hit back-to-back batters with pitches to put runners at first and second with two outs. Cease struggled with his location on the inside of the zone and clipped both batters on the upper arm trying to paint the edges. 

Chicago White Sox designated hitter Edgar Quero (7) scores against San Diego Padres catcher Freddy Fermin (54) during the fourth inning at Rate Field.

Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Chicago White Sox designated hitter Edgar Quero (7) scores against San Diego Padres catcher Freddy Fermin (54) during the fourth inning at Rate Field.

Things went from bad to worse after that. Back-to-back singles followed the back-to-back hit batters and put another two runs on the board for the White Sox. 

That would be all Chicago needed. San Diego managed one more run in the top of the sixth but nothing else and Chicago came away with the 4-3 win. 

The loss against the 58-96 White Sox is the latest in a stretch of late-season struggles for the Padres. San Diego has lost three of their last four and are falling increasingly away from the Los Angeles Dodgers at the top of the National League West. The Padres still have a healthy spot in the second Wild Card slot, but are now 3.5 games behind the Dodgers for the division lead with just eight games left in the regular season.Â