White Sox help playoff cause behind Burke, Vargas in win over Detroit

The Detroit Tigers appeared to tie the score in the sixth inning of Saturday’s game against the White Sox.

A Sean Burke pitch skipped away from catcher Kyle Teel on a swinging strike, and Riley Greene raced home safely.

Something about the sequence looked off to the Sox, who asked for a review.

“Just kind of collectively looked like a funky play where we weren’t quite sure, maybe it’s even a foul ball,” manager Will Venable said. “Just let (major-league replay/video coordinator Bryan Johnson) do his thing on the replay.

“Obviously, big play.”

The video review showed that the pitch hit batter Brett Callahan. The play was ruled dead, and since Callahan swung, the at-bat continued and Greene returned to third as the bases remained loaded.

“It’s almost like getting another life back,” Burke said. “Once that happens, it’s just bearing down and making a pitch.”

Burke went on to strike out Callahan.

Burke provided a much-needed lift for the Sox in a 3-1 victory in front of 30,631 at Rate Field.

“One of those days where you really need (Burke) to step up and have a good outing and cover a lot of innings and give us a chance to win,” Venable said. “I thought he did a great job.”

The right-hander allowed one run on five hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked three in the 97-pitch outing. Burke is the first Sox pitcher to record a quality start since Aug. 21, when he did so against the New York Mets

“I knew where we were at bullpen-wise and (Tigers starter Jackson) Jobe’s a pretty good arm, so I knew runs were going to be tough to come by today,” Burke said. “Just showing up today and knowing that’s what I’ve got to do and just going out and doing the job.”

At the conclusion of their game, the Sox had a 1½-game lead over the Texas Rangers for the final American League wild-card spot and trailed the Cleveland Guardians by a half-game for first place in the AL Central.

“We’ve got seven games left and these games are important for the position we’re in,” Burke said. “We could earn a bye (as a possible No. 2 seed) or be out of the playoffs, so all these games are super important.”

Saturday’s game was moved up from a scheduled evening start because of a forecast of poor weather. Burke adjusted well to the change and received support throughout the afternoon both offensively and defensively from Miguel Vargas.

The third baseman went 1-for-2 with two walks, a solo home run and two runs.

Vargas walked in the first inning, stole second base and scored on a Munetaka Murakami single. With the stolen base, Vargas became the first player in Sox history to record at least 30 doubles (31), 30 home runs (33), 20 stolen bases and 100 runs (101) in a season.

“It’s what he’s done all year,” Venable said. “Certainly a great day to point to on his growth and some of the things he’s been able to achieve individually. He’s been in the middle of everything for us. We’ve seen him grow as a player defensively, on the bases and at the plate all year. It’s been amazing.”

With two on and two out in the fourth, Vargas made a nice diving stop on a hard-hit grounder by Dillon Dingler and threw him out at first to end the inning.

“That’s one of my main things coming (into) this year,” Vargas said of the defensive work. “I want to be able to help my team on both sides of the field, and to be able to make that play in that moment means a lot to me.”

The Tigers did get a run home in the next inning, tying the score on a Kevin McGonigle sacrifice fly.

The Sox went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth when Braden Montgomery scored on Sam Antonacci’s sacrifice fly to left field. Vargas extended the lead to 3-1 with the solo home run, his team-high 33rd of the season, in the sixth.

Noah Schultz and Grant Taylor made the lead hold up. Schultz allowed two hits and struck out four in 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

“Doing whatever to help get wins,” Schultz said. “That’s the bottom line, try to win games.”

Taylor allowed one hit over the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings for his 10th save as the Sox bounced back after seeing a six-run lead disappear in Friday’s 11-8 loss.

“This is what this team is about,” Vargas said. “We never give up. We always come back and battle the next day and play all nine innings. That’s what we have been doing the whole year, just show up that day.”