Another day, another loss. The Cubs take the second game of the Crosstown series, although the White Sox put up enough of a fight on Saturday to stay in the game until the halfway mark.
Friends — Chase Meidroth decided to show up and show out by starting the game with a leadoff home run:
After an unremarkable top of the second and the White Sox still leading, Dansby Swanson singled to start the bottom half. Moisés Ballesteros and Nico Hoerner picked up walks, and Burke was quickly reminded that walks will haunt: Miguel Amaya singled on a line drive, sending two North Siders home. Vidal Bruján grounded out, but PCA was up next, and singled to send two more home. Tucker and Suzuki both battled, but the South Siders were able to regain a little control, but were now down 4-1.
Joshua Palacios flirted with the warning track but was robbed by PCA to start the third. Michael A. Taylor managed a single, and Meidroth followed with his second hit of the game. Both Taylor and Meidroth pulled off a double steal with one out.
Miguel Vargas drove in his 20th run with a sac fly, cutting the deficit in half. Burke continued to struggle, especially with the fastball, as he gave up his fourth walk of the game, but escaped the third.
Extremely high-IQ baseball play by Tim Elko!
He didn’t touch a ball that started rolling foul but eventually rolled fair, and was able to pick it up and step on 1st base to get the Sox out of the inning.pic.twitter.com/zZ2URXax97
— Just Another Year: White Sox (@JAYChi_WhiteSox) May 17, 2025
Starting the fifth, Tim Elko hit a rocket just to the right of center for a leadoff homer, bringing the Good Guys within one. That’s all the Sox could muster up, but better than nothing.
Burke got his fourth strikeout of the game, but Swanson had to ruin the better vibes and cancel out Elko’s clout with a solo homer in the fifth. With two outs, Hoerner singled. Lenyn Sosa’s poor throw to first caused an error that should’ve been an easy out but extended the inning instead, allowing Amaya to reach first. The wind also wanted to keep things interesting, as it kept Palacios from catching a deep fly, thus sending in additional runs. Between the wind, a high pitch count, and runners on for PCA, Burke was pulled and replaced by Cam Booser. For some much-needed good news, after a battle PCA struck out swinging to end the Cubs fifth.
One thing Sox pitching unfortunately excelled in today has been giving up walks. The bottom of the seventh started with a walk for Hoerner, who stole second moments after. Amaya followed up with a walk, putting two on and no outs. Mike Vasil balked, advancing the runners. Bruján grounded out, and PCA couldn’t hit past the infield, bringing two quick outs. Tucker was intentionally walked to load the bases for Suzuki. Thankfully, Vasil drew up a perfect pitch, befuddling Suzuki and ending the inning with bases loaded.
Meidroth, with an incredible game thus far, had a one-out single for this third hit of the game. Per usual, he was stranded. Swanson drew a one-out walk and stole second, again. Turner walked, and Hoerner singled to pad the lead a bit more — per usual.
With all hope lost late, Andrew Vaughn awoke with a ninth-inning single after being entirely useless all afternoon — including inexcusably standing at home plate on a third strike that got past the catcher and back to the screen. Alas, that hit would be in vain, as the Sox couldn’t produce anything after.
The series wraps up tomorrow, and with the effort, skill and smarts on display in the first two losses, anticipate the Cubs getting an easy sweep.
Futility Watch
White Sox 2025 Record 14-32, tied for worst start in White Sox history and tied for the 55th-worst start in baseball history. A 14-32 record projects to 49-113 over a full season. A year ago, the record-breaking White Sox also were 14-32.
All-Time White Sox Record (1901-2025, 19,252 games) 9,608-9,644 (.4991). It’s been 90 games since the White Sox had an all-time winning record.
Record Since the New Pope Was Revealed as a White Sox Fan 4-4
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)
8 games better, in all cases
Race to the Worst Post-1899 Record (1916 A’s, 38-124 adjusted to 162 games) 11 games better
Poll
Who was your White Sox MVP?
91%
Chase Meidroth: 3-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI
(34 votes)
2%
Tim Elko: 1 HR, 1 BB
(1 vote)
5%
Michael A. Taylor: 1-for-2, 1 R
(2 votes)
37 votes total
Poll
Who was your White Sox Cold Cat?
48%
Sean Burke: 4 2⁄3 IP, 5 ER 5 BB, -0.44 WPA
(18 votes)
5%
Miguel Vargas: 0-for-4, 1 K
(2 votes)
2%
Edgar Quero: 0-for-4, 1 K
(1 vote)
43%
Luis Robert Jr.: 0-for-4, 2 K
(16 votes)
37 votes total