The White Sox had a chance to lean on a strong Sean Burke outing and never came close to cashing it in Saturday, falling 4-1 to the Astros in a game that turned into an ugly offensive night and a shaky defensive one.
Houston starter Hunter Brown made the Chicago lineup look helpless. The White Sox managed only two hits against him, and the only players to record hits were first baseman Munetaka Murakami, right fielder Braden Montgomery, shortstop Colson Montgomery, third baseman Miguel Vargas, and center fielder Tristan Peters. Brown rolled through seven shutout innings and never seemed to lose control.
Chicago also came up empty in the spots that mattered most, finishing 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position. That followed a rough showing in Friday’s game against Houston, when the White Sox went 2-for-16 in those situations.
The defense didn’t help Burke either. Braden Montgomery let a ground ball get by him, leading to an error on a single that cleared the bases. Colson Montgomery also let a ball get past him on a play that was not scored as an error, though it was one he could have handled.
Burke still gave the White Sox a real chance to stay in it. He worked six innings, allowed four hits and three runs, with two earned, while walking one and striking out 10.
For most of the afternoon, he looked in command. But the combination of defensive mistakes and a rough sixth inning knocked him off that track.
Even with the loss, Burke’s recent run has been hard to ignore. He now owns a 1.61 ERA over his last seven appearances, with 57 strikeouts in 44.2 innings, and has taken over the ace role on this pitching staff.
Trevor Richards also gave Chicago something to build on, allowing one run over two innings out of the bullpen.
The White Sox will try to avoid a sweep on Sunday afternoon when Erick Fedde faces Ronel Blanco. Blanco returned on Monday after Tommy John surgery early in the 2025 season and gave up four runs while striking out eight in 4.2 innings against the Miami Marlins, with three walks mixed in. Given how often Chicago hitters have been overmatched by Houston’s pitching this series, the White Sox could be staring at a sweep if Blanco finds his 2024 form.
Fedde has been steady lately, posting a 3.03 ERA over his last seven appearances. In his last outing against the Texas Rangers, he allowed two runs in four innings. If the White Sox want to finish the series with a win, they’ll need a much cleaner effort on both sides of the ball.
In Other News...
Lance McCullers Jr.'s Brewers Stint Took An Unexpected Turn Fast
Lance McCullers Jr.s brief stop in Milwaukee already looks like a footnote in the larger Astros-Brewers deal that sent him and Colton Gordon to the other side of the trade ledger. The Brewers took on some of McCullers remaining contract money, but the move was always about more than just one pitcher changing uniforms, with Houston using the deal to clear salary as the trade deadline approached.
McCullers made two outings for Milwaukee before the club designated him for assignment, and now his next step depends on how the waiver process plays out. If he clears, a return to Houston on a minor-league deal is on the table, which would make this one of those rare late-July transactions that circles right back to where it started. [Read more 🡒]
Another Contender Is Suddenly Circling An Astros Cornerstone Shortstop
The Red Sox have already made one move to reshape the infield, sending Connelly Early to Washington to land Curtis Mead, and now their deadline focus appears to be turning to shortstop. According to USA Todays Bob Nightengale, Boston is looking at a pair of controllable options in Zach Neto of the Angels and Jeremy Pena of the Astros, which tells you the club is not just shopping for help, but for a long-term answer at a premium position.
For Houston, Penas name surfacing in that kind of conversation is the part worth noting. He remains under club control for several more years, which makes him the sort of player contenders do not pry loose easily, and any serious pursuit would figure to come with a steep price. Even so, the fact that Boston is circling a player with Penas profile is another reminder that the deadline market can get aggressive fast when a team decides it wants impact, not just depth. [Read more 🡒]
Hunter Brown Finally Looked Like The Astros Ace Joe Espada Saw
Hunter Brown gave the Astros exactly the kind of start they have been waiting to see, working seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in a 4-1 win over the White Sox. It was the kind of outing that fit the confidence Joe Espada had shown in him even through an injury-plagued season, and it marked Browns first trip into the seventh inning this year.
Browns stuff looked sharper, too, with his pitch speeds up across the board and his fastball and sinker showing a little more life. After allowing a single to Munetaka Murakami in the fourth, he settled in and retired 12 straight batters, the sort of stretch that made this feel less like a good night and more like a possible turning point. [Read more 🡒]