Miguel Vargas hadn’t hit a home run since the sixth inning of an Aug. 21 game against the New York Mets.
The Chicago White Sox third baseman was stuck on 29 for the season. That changed in the first inning Friday against the Minnesota Twins when Vargas hit a solo home run to right-center field for his 30th of the year.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Vargas said. “I know how hard it is and I’ve been working very hard. (To) achieve one of these moments, it means a lot for me for sure.”
Shortstop Colson Montgomery joined him in the 30-homer club in the fourth inning with a two-run blast.
Photos: Chicago White Sox 4, Minnesota Twins 1
The Sox finished with three home runs in a 4-1 victory against the Twins in front of 25,616 at Rate Field.
Even with the win, the Sox saw the American League Central race tighten. The first-place Sox (74-67) have a 2½ game lead over the second-place Cleveland Guardians (72-70), who won both games of a doubleheader Friday against the Detroit Tigers in walk-off fashion.
According to STATS, Vargas and Montgomery are the first Sox teammates in franchise history to record their 30th home run of the season in the same game.
“It just goes back to offseason training and things like that,” Colson Montgomery said. “You dream of all this stuff and you try to prepare for all this stuff. Going out there and making it happen is not easy by any means. I think it’s just a lot of dedication to staying with your approach and process and stuff.
“Doing it on the same night and being able to share with Vargas is awesome.”
They are the first pair of Sox players to record 30-plus home runs since José Abreu (33) and Eloy Jiménez (31) in 2019.
White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas, left, crosses the plate past Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers after hitting a solo home run in the first inning Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Rate Field. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
White Sox manager Will Venable, right, congratulates third baseman Miguel Vargas after a solo home run in the first inning against the Twins on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Rate Field. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
“It’s really cool, a special season really by all our offense,” manager Will Venable said. “Sitting on 29, I’m sure they’re thinking about it a little bit. So great to see it. Now they can move past it and continue to hit.”
Vargas is the fifth primary third baseman in Sox history to hit 30 home runs in a season, joining Todd Frazier (40 in 2016), Robin Ventura (34 in 1996), Bill Melton (33 in 1970-71) and Joe Crede (30 in 2006).
Vargas, Ventura and Crede are the only primary third basemen in franchise history to record 30 doubles and 30 home runs in the same season. Vargas has 30 doubles.
Montgomery, 24, is the third player in Sox history at age 24 or younger to record 30-plus home runs and 80-plus RBIs in a season, along with Frank Thomas in 1991 (23 years old, 32 home runs, 109 RBIs) and Melton in 1970 (24 years old, 33 home runs, 96 RBIs). Montgomery has 81 RBIs.
The Vargas home run came with one out in the first inning on a 3-2 fastball from Twins starter Zebby Matthews. Braden Montgomery hit a solo home run in the second.
“We scored in the first two innings and have a little more comfort and go after guys,” Sox starter Erick Fedde said. “Breathing room is always nice. This team has done that for the most part all year.”
Colson Montgomery made it 4-0 with the two-run blast in the fourth on an 0-1 fastball.
“We all know how good Colson is and how important he is for the team,” Vargas said. “Doing this with him, it means a lot for me and I’m very glad to share that moment with him too.”
Matthews — who carried a perfect game into the sixth inning last weekend against the Sox at Target Field — allowed four runs on four hits with four strikeouts and one walk in five innings.
“The last time we faced him in Minnesota, we did a really good job — we got good barrels, good contact, good at-bats, just we didn’t get the result that we wanted,” Vargas said. “Today we came in with the same mentality, trying to be a little bit more aggressive and attacking a little bit more and we got a good result.”
The Sox took the opener of the three-game series thanks to the home runs and a strong outing from Fedde. The right-hander allowed three hits, struck out two and walked two in five scoreless innings.
“Just trying to make quality pitches no matter the count,” Fedde said. “These games are as important as they come, throwing every pitch like it’s the most important one of the year. And just kind of carrying that mentality pitch to pitch and it’s had success.
“When I go out there right now, I’m feeling as good as I’ve felt all year.”