Miguel Vargas dropped two pop-ups in the sun, turning a close game into a blowout. The White Sox lost 10-3 to the Giants in San Francisco, with Erick Fedde struggling early and a 425-foot grand slam by Harrison Bader breaking things open.
SAN FRANCISCO — Third baseman Miguel Vargas couldn’t see it coming on a crystal-clear afternoon at Oracle Park, losing track of two pop-ups that swung the game out of reach for the White Sox in their 10-3 loss to the Giants.
The damage started in the fifth inning. The Sox were already trailing 5-3 with two outs when Vargas lost track of Matt Chapman’s pop-up in the sun. It fell for a double. Erick Fedde then walked the next two batters and handed things over to Jordan Leasure. freshly recalled from Triple-A Charlotte. with the bases loaded.
Leasure appeared to have a clean escape in sight. He induced a weak pop-up from Harrison Bader in foul territory. But Vargas — still squinting without sunglasses — lost that one too. The at-bat continued. and Bader made the Sox pay with a 425-foot grand slam that expanded the Giants’ lead and effectively sealed the outcome.
Afterward, Vargas acknowledged the decision he made earlier in the game. He said he took off his shades because “it was tough for me to watch the baseball off the bat.”
“I guess it wasn’t the right decision for me,” Vargas said. “We learn and move forward.”
The mistake hurt more because Vargas had delivered earlier. He smacked an RBI double the previous inning off his former teammate, Giants starter Adrian Houser.
Manager Will Venable defended the choice in principle, while making clear how much the team values what Vargas brings day to day. Venable said sunglasses are a personal choice, adding that “you trust the player to make the right decision.”
“Vargy’s been arguably our best player to this point. and not only just our best player. but a guy that really sets the standard for how we go about our business and how we run and play with effort. ” Venable said. “These plays happen. It’s unfortunate. and no one feels as bad about it as Vargy. but he always does the right thing. and he’s our guy.”.
Fedde falls to 0-5 as Giants pile on
On the mound, Fedde dropped to 0-5, surrendering eight runs and 10 hits in 3⅓ innings. He issued two walks and struck out three batters.
The White Sox scored their other runs through Drew Romo and Sam Antonacci, with Romo driving in a run with a single and Antonacci producing a run with a fielder’s choice.
Jordan swap reshapes bullpen
The loss also carried roster movement. Leasure returned Saturday in a swap of Jordans on the Sox’ roster. Reliever Jordan Hicks was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right lat strain.
Hicks said he felt soreness building for almost two weeks before trainers decided to shut him down. He arrived after an offseason salary dump, and he had posted a 5.60 ERA in 20 outings, with 15 walks and 17 strikeouts.
Leasure entered his third season with high expectations in the back of the pen, but he struggled to a 6.06 ERA in 16 outings before being sent down May 7. His tough-luck 1⅓ innings upon returning pushed his ERA to 6.11.
Venable pointed to the kind of matchups Leasure has been asked to handle. “The thing with Jordan is that we just put him in really tough spots,” Venable said before the grand slam. “He’s always matching up against the heart of their lineup.”
Other Sox health update
Jarred Kelenic was back in right field for the White Sox one day after getting scratched from the lineup when he was hit in the back during batting practice.
Home Run Derby thoughts from Murakami
In a lighter moment, rookie slugger Munetaka Murakami rolled his eyes like a veteran when asked whether he has thought about taking part in the Home Run Derby during the All-Star break.
Murakami, despite going almost a week without going yard, entered Saturday with an American League-leading 17 homers, trailing only Kyle Schwarber’s 20 for the top mark in MLB. He said, via interpreter Kenzo Yagi, “It’s a long season. I just want to keep putting the results and see where it goes.”
White Sox Miguel Vargas Giants Matt Chapman Harrison Bader Erick Fedde Jordan Leasure Jordan Hicks Jarred Kelenic Munetaka Murakami Will Venable Oracle Park Home Run Derby