Friends — the White Sox are headed to the postseason! In a game dominated entirely by the South Siders, the Royals went down 9-1, giving Chicago both a series win and a playoff berth. Let’s break down this beautiful win.
The White Sox started with early runs and gritty baseball, playing like a team determined to make the playoffs today. Sam Antonacci led off with a single, and Kyle Teel followed with a bunt and was safe on a throwing error by Royals pitcher Randy Dobnak. A wild pitch then advanced
both runners, and Antonacci scored on Miguel Vargas’ single. With one out, Andrew Benintendi brought Teel home on a sacrifice fly. Vargas stole second and scored on a single from Tristan Peters.
Chase Meidroth singled, but Colson Montgomery couldn’t bring home either runner.
In the bottom of the frame, the Royals couldn’t answer despite a double from Bobby Witt Jr., while Sox starter David Sandlin recorded two of his seven strikeouts in the inning.
The second inning stayed busy for the White Sox, starting with a leadoff single from Braden Montgomery. Antonacci drew a walk, and Randy Dobnak, who was not having a great outing, made matters worse with a botched pickoff attempt that allowed Braden to score.
A pitch then hit Teel, and Vargas followed with another single, sending Antonacci home.
Munetaka Murakami grounded into a force out, but plated Teel on the play. With one out and two on, the Royals pulled Dobnak. Anthony Gose retired the next two batters, but the White Sox took a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the second.
Sandlin ran into mild trouble after allowing two singles but recorded his fourth strikeout of the game, his third looking.
For the third straight inning, the Good Guys had their leadoff man aboard, this time with a two-bagger from Meidroth, his 30th double of the season. Meidroth was unfortunately stranded. Sandlin kept the Royals quiet, retiring them in order.
Teel started the fourth with a solo home run off the new pitcher, Alex Lange.
Perhaps a bit frazzled, Lange gave up two free passes that would haunt him. In the next at-bat, Peters grounded into a force out, sending Vargas home to make it 8-0. Sandlin finally surrendered his first run of the game on a round-tripper to Salvador Perez in the bottom of the fourth, but struck out two more and allowed no additional damage.
The bases were loaded again in the fifth for, say it with me, a new Royals pitcher. This time it was Jose Caus. A single and two walks filled the bases, and Benintendi drew another walk to make it 9-1. Sandlin continued to dominate, striking out a career-high seven without issuing a walk through five innings.
For the first time all game, the White Sox went down in order in the sixth. Sandlin returned the favor in the bottom half, retiring the Royals in order. Both teams put a runner on in the seventh, and both left that runner stranded. The Sox went down in order again in the eighth.
Tyler Davis kept the Royals off the bases in the bottom of the eighth, leaving the White Sox three outs from glory. But first, Nolan Hoffman came on for the top of the ninth. With one out, Braden took advantage of the sun in left fielder Isaac Collins’ eyes with a double. Teel got plunked to put two on with two outs, just for a little added drama, but Vargas went down swinging.
Trevor Richards got a quick first out but decided our nerves hadn’t been tested enough and gave up a walk. A fly ball to Brenton Doyle made it two away — deep breaths, dear reader. Nick Loftin doubled, putting runners on second and third. Thankfully, Salvy isn’t known for his speed, so he got the red light. Richards got John Rave to hit a ground ball, and boom, ballgame.
Your 2026 White Sox are heading to the playoffs!
How does one even pick an MVP for this game?
MVPs:
David Sandlin and Kyle Teel
Sandlin: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Teel: 3 R, 2 H, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 HR, 0 K, excellent behind the plate
Runners-Up:
Miguel Vargas: 2 R, 2 H, 2 RBI, 1 BB
Andrew Benintendi: 2 RBI, 2 BB
Braden Montgomery: 1 R, 2 H
Cold Cat: NO ONE, WE’RE GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS!
