The Detroit Tigers erased a six-run deficit and beat the Chicago White Sox 11-8 at Guaranteed Rate Field on Friday, September 18, 2026, in a nine-inning division matchup that slipped away in the late innings. Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery each drove in three runs to keep the Sox alive, but a bullpen collapse — headlined by Sean Newcomb surrendering three earned runs in two-thirds of an inning — handed Detroit the win. Drew Sommers earned the victory with two scoreless innings, and Kenley Jansen closed it out for the save.

White Sox Offense Gave the Bullpen Enough to Work With — and Then Some

Chicago put together a genuine offensive effort. Vargas went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI, providing the kind of production the Sox needed up the middle of the order. Montgomery matched him with two hits and three RBI in four at-bats, a strong night for the young infielder. The Sox totaled eight runs, which on most nights is more than enough to win a ballgame. On Friday, it was not.

Detroit's Offense Was Relentless, Led by Hao-Yu Lee

The Tigers' lineup did real damage. Hao-Yu Lee was the standout performer of the game for either side, going 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBI. Kevin McGonigle added two hits and four RBI in five at-bats, and Riley Greene contributed a home run with two RBI. Spencer Torkelson and Eduardo Valencia each went 2-for-4, keeping the lineup churning from top to bottom. Detroit finished with 11 runs on what was a genuinely punishing night against Chicago's pitching staff.

Pitching Breakdown: Sandlin Struggled Early, Bullpen Imploded Late

Starter David Sandlin gave the Sox four innings but allowed five earned runs on seven hits, keeping Chicago in a difficult position from the start. The bullpen carried the game from there with mixed results.

  • Hagen Smith delivered a clean inning — three strikeouts, no hits, no earned runs — and was the clear bright spot out of the pen.
  • Chris Murphy allowed one earned run in one inning on two hits.
  • Jordan Hicks threw two-thirds of an inning without allowing a hit, but issued two walks.
  • Sean Newcomb, the pitcher of record, got just two-thirds of an inning before surrendering three earned runs on two hits and a walk — the moment the game turned decisively toward Detroit.
  • Bryan Hudson was tagged for two earned runs on four hits in just one-third of an inning, making a bad situation worse.
  • Trevor Richards finished things out with one and one-third scoreless innings to limit further damage.

The Turning Point: Newcomb and Hudson in the Late Innings

Chicago entered the game's final stretch with a chance, but the combination of Newcomb and Hudson giving up five earned runs in one and one-third innings combined was the death blow. Detroit's lineup, which had already demonstrated it could put runs on the board in bunches, did not need a second invitation. The Sox offense could not answer in the ninth against Kenley Jansen, who retired the side and locked down the save.

What's Next for the White Sox

The Sox and Tigers continue their series at Guaranteed Rate Field. After Friday's loss, Chicago will need better length from its starting pitching and a more reliable bullpen bridge to keep division opponents from exploiting the late innings. The offense showed it can score — eight runs is a legitimate night's work — but the pitching will need to hold up its end to turn that production into wins.