Sean Burke and Miguel Vargas help the White Sox beat the Tigers 3-1

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Chicago White Sox starter Sean Burke delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago White Sox's Miguel Vargas celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring on a Munetaka Murakami single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) — Chicago White Sox starter Sean Burke delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

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4:55 PM on Saturday, September 19

By JAY COHEN

CHICAGO (AP) — Sean Burke pitched six effective innings, Miguel Vargas homered and the Chicago White Sox topped the Detroit Tigers 3-1 on Saturday for a sorely needed victory.

Chicago dropped into second in the AL Central after it blew a six-run lead in an 11-8 loss to Detroit on Friday night. It remained one game back of division-leading Cleveland, which beat the Athletics 12-6 on Saturday night, but it improved its lead for the third AL wild card to two games over Houston.

The White Sox (79-76) dropped at least 101 games in each of the last three years. They could become the first big league team to make the playoffs after finishing with at least 100 losses in each of the previous two seasons.

Burke (10-7) allowed one run and five hits in his second straight win. Grant Taylor got four outs for his 10th save.

Detroit (73-82) left 11 runners on base in its third loss in four games. Jackson Jobe (2-3) struck out nine while surrendering three runs in six innings.

Trailing 2-1, the Tigers loaded the bases with two down in the sixth. Riley Greene scampered home on a wild pitch to Brett Callahan but video review determined the ball hit Callahan after he swung and missed, and Greene was sent back to third.

Callahan then struck out looking, ending the inning, and Vargas led off the bottom half with a 390-foot drive to left-center for his 33rd homer.

Taylor replaced Noah Schultz with two on in the eighth. The right-hander retired pinch-hitter Eduardo Valencia on a bouncer to first, ending the inning.

The start time was moved to the afternoon because of thunderstorms forecasted for Saturday night.

Chicago played without outfielder Tristan Peters, who was sore a day after crashing into the wall in right-center while trying to make a play on Kevin McGonigle’s triple in the fifth inning.

Up next

Troy Melton (8-4, 2.52 ERA) starts for Detroit on Sunday, and fellow right-hander Davis Martin (9-7, 3.96 ERA) pitches for Chicago in the finale of the four-game series.

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