The ‘tarps off’ section in the left-field upper deck at Rate Field saw enthusiastic fans chanting as the Chicago White Sox concluded their final at-bats on Friday night. ‘We want Shohei,’ the shirtless crowd chanted, referring to the renowned Los Angeles Dodgers player, Shohei Ohtani. Although Ohtani didn’t play due to a left knee injury, the White Sox showcased confidence with an 8-2 series opener win against the Dodgers.
The Dodgers, despite being back-to-back World Series champions, faced a solid opposing White Sox team on their home turf. Third baseman Miguel Vargas highlighted the series’ importance for the team, stating, ‘We want to play this type of team; they are really good, and see how we are. We did a really good job today.’
The White Sox victory on Friday marked their eighth consecutive win at Rate Field, contributing to their record as one of the strongest home teams in the league. They rank just behind the Tampa Bay Rays in terms of home victories. Second baseman Chase Meidroth credited the fan support, stating, ‘It’s the fans showing up every day. It’s so exciting to come back to it. We love playing home games.’
The energy from the 37,882 sold-out crowd fueled a pivotal fifth inning. The White Sox sent 11 batters to the plate, scoring seven runs on five hits, forcing Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki out of the game. Key plays included an opposite-field double by Vargas and a two-run triple by Tristan Peters, much to the delight of the cheering fans.
The Dodgers struggled for most of the game, despite some success in the second inning. Santiago Espinal drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single off White Sox starter Anthony Kay. Kay managed to work through the inning, striking out Andy Pages and retiring Freddie Freeman with a fly ball, preventing further score damage. Meidroth praised Kay’s resilience, noting his maturity and determination.
Kay allowed one more hit before teaming with Bryan Hudson, Trevor Richards, and Chris Murphy to retire the final 19 Dodgers hitters. Kay’s effective use of his slider and reduced fastball reliance helped him strike out seven and allow only two runs over five innings.
This performance also marked a notable game for Vargas against his former team. With a three-hit game, Vargas expressed his competitive spirit, saying, ‘I want to beat not just the Dodgers, I want to beat everyone.’
Injury Updates:
Munetaka Murakami is working on recovering from a hamstring injury, though his return date remains uncertain. He stated that typical recovery ranges from four to six weeks. Kyle Teel, dealing with a sprained lateral collateral ligament, is progressing in baseball activities and might start a rehab assignment soon. Noah Schultz is also set to throw a bullpen, indicating a possible rehab assignment if successful.
Reporter Andy Martinez provided this coverage as a freelancer for the Chicago Tribune.