Burke Dominates on the Mound as White Sox Defeat Rangers 4-1

Sean Burke delivered a masterful performance, allowing just three hits over six innings, propelling the Chicago White Sox to a 4-1 victory against the Texas Rangers on Friday night.

With this win, Burke improved his record to 3-5, outshining Tyler Mahle, who fell to 5-2. The White Sox, having struggled recently with six losses in their last seven games, opened the weekend series on a positive note. Meanwhile, the Rangers faced their fifth consecutive defeat, marking a season low.

In the third inning, Luis Robert Jr. highlighted a three-run rally with an RBI single. His performance didn’t stop there; he advanced to third base after right fielder Adolis García mishandled a fly ball to start the sixth inning and later scored on Joshua Palacios' single off Caleb Boushley, extending the lead to 4-1.

Both teams entered the game with the lowest batting averages and scoring totals in the American League, making the White Sox's offensive output more than sufficient for the win.

Burke's line included one earned run, six strikeouts, and three walks, showcasing his ability to control the game. Cam Booser and Jordan Leasure each contributed an inning of relief before Steven Wilson closed out the game in the ninth for his first save, ending an 11-game losing streak against Texas.

Mahle's outing lasted five innings, during which he surrendered a season-high three runs and five hits. Jake Burger attempted to spark a comeback with a two-out double in the sixth, but the Rangers continued to struggle offensively after being outscored 10-5 by the New York Yankees in their previous three games.

Mahle had previously held opponents to two runs or fewer in each of his first ten starts but found himself in trouble early, falling behind 3-0 in the third inning. He allowed singles to Lenyn Sosa and Josh Rojas before walking Mike Tauchman and Miguel Vargas, which forced in the first run. Andrew Benintendi added a sacrifice fly before Robert's bloop single capped off the scoring.

This victory marked the White Sox's first win against the Rangers since a close 7-6 game on June 20, 2023, in Chicago.

Looking ahead, rookie right-hander Jack Leiter (3-2, 4.25 ERA) is set to start for Texas, while Chicago will send right-hander Jonathan Cannon (2-5, 3.76) to the mound.