White Sox scored twice in the eighth, including a sacrifice fly that turned a tense play into the go-ahead run against Seattle.
A sixth-inning duel between Logan Gilbert and Davis Martin turned into a late-series turning point when the White Sox finally broke through in the eighth, rallying past the Mariners 2-1 at Rate Field.
Gilbert, the Seattle right-hander, was nearly untouchable early and stayed in control most of the way. He allowed just one hit and issued no walks across six innings, leaving Chicago searching for ways to get quality swings as the game progressed.
Martin. meanwhile. was sharp again for the White Sox and looked like he could be developing into an emerging staff cornerstone.. He surrendered one run on three hits while striking out nine and walking two in six innings. reaching 105 pitches with 72 strikes before Sean Newcomb took over to begin the seventh.
The contrast between both pitchers showed up quickly for the Sox’ offense.. After Miguel Vargas’ line double with two outs in the first. it took time for Chicago to record another hit with authority.. Gilbert struck out nine, and the Sox struggled to put additional pressure on Seattle beyond that early moment.
Seattle’s first run came in the first when Julio Rodriguez doubled with one out and Josh Naylor walked. After Martin struck out struggling Cal Raleigh looking, Randy Arozarena singled up the middle to plate Rodriguez, giving the Mariners a 1-0 lead.
Martin did settle in afterward, retiring 14 of the next 17 batters he faced.. Even so, there was recognition inside the team that the start needed refining.. The report described Martin as benefiting from adjustments after what he characterized as a less-than-crisp pregame bullpen. and he discussed having hard conversations with pitching coach Zach Bove before making mechanical changes to regain the feel of the zone.
New life finally arrived for Chicago in the eighth inning. when Randal Grichuk—described as a newcomer with power—tied the game with his second home run in three home games.. His homer came as the leadoff swing of the inning off reliever Eduard Bazardo. a drive to left that the report said came on a down-the-middle sweeper with a 1-2 count.
The go-ahead run followed from a decision that turned into a high-stakes gamble.. Miguel Vargas hit a sacrifice fly to short left. and Randy Arozarena was credited with making the catch as the play developed at 243 feet.. Catcher Drew Romo had doubled after Grichuk’s homer. advanced to third on Sam Antonacci’s bunt. and was left holding that base after Bazardo intentionally walked Munetaka Murakami.
With two outs and Romo in scoring position, third-base coach Justin Jirschele sent Romo toward home.. The report noted the play was close—Arozarena’s catch left the throw sailing over catcher Cal Raleigh—and Romo raced in anyway.. Jirschele later said he believed it was a shallow fly ball and that Romo was likely to be committed until he stopped. explaining the rationale for staying aggressive despite the catcher’s speed on the bases.
Romo described the mental approach behind the run as simple: once the call came. he kept going rather than trying to second-guess the timing.. Jirschele added that he did not remember detailed feedback about the exact distance Romo ran down the line. saying he blacked out in the moment. while also pointing to a possible hesitation on the throw that could have caught Arozarena off guard.
While the late-inning rally carried the day, Chicago still had to defend the lead in the ninth.. Closer Seranthony Dominguez worked through a one-out, bases-loaded jam and ultimately earned his ninth save.. He allowed two singles and a walk. then got Cole Young to pop out and Brendan Donovan on a grounder to close it out.
The win boosted the White Sox to a 19-21 record. but the report emphasized that it came only after an offense that had been largely quiet for much of the afternoon restarted late.. Vargas’ first-inning double remained the only hit that counted early against Gilbert. and the Sox didn’t find their way back into sustained offense until the late rally.
Adding another layer to the performance. Bryan Hudson came out for the scoreless eighth and navigated trouble by working around a Josh Naylor single to earn his first win this season.. The left-hander. listed at 6-foot-8. has not allowed a run over a career-high 18 appearances and 16 2/3 innings. a stretch described as the longest scoreless appearance streak in the majors this season.
The report also pointed to the team’s broader push for improvement through pitching and situational decision-making.. Venable was quoted describing what he calls a tightening process with returns and preparation. and another quote in the reporting framed it as a matter of giving players a heads-up on which areas might be worth challenging.. Taken together with the game’s sequence. it highlights how the Sox’ late burst depended on more than just swing-and-miss results—timing. base-running calls. and bullpen execution shaped the outcome.
Elsewhere in the reporting. the season narrative continued to challenge expectations. including a mention of a .500 record in May that no one anticipated.. The report also referenced other recent dominant stretches around the pitching staff. noting that one reliever had been particularly effective in his last two appearances. both characterized as strong outings.
For Chicago. Sunday’s result offered a rare combination: a relatively low-scoring game decided by the eighth inning. a sacrifice-fly gamble that paid off. and a closing sequence that survived despite late baserunners.. For Seattle. Gilbert’s dominance made the late shift feel especially frustrating. with the Mariners’ lead slipping just as the Sox started to find momentum at the plate.
White Sox Mariners Davis Martin Logan Gilbert Seranthony Dominguez MLB score eighth inning rally