DETROIT — Whatever happens to the White Sox the rest of the way, their streak of seasons with 100 losses will end at three.
With their 9-5 victory against the Tigers, the Sox won their 63rd game of the season, ensuring they’ll finish with no more than 99 losses. If they continue to hit like they did Friday, they’ll finish well below that mark.
Asked whether snapping the skid was important, Miguel Vargas gave a fitting answer: “100%.”
“You guys know I’ve been here for [three] years, and I know how important this is for us,” said Vargas, who went 4-for-5 with two homers, a double and three RBI. “Not just for us, but for the entire organization.”
Munetaka Murakami hit his team-leading 27th homer, and Tristan Peters went 3-for-5 with his first homer since hitting for the cycle July 10. Braden Montgomery also went 3-for-5 with a triple and three RBI.
Manager Will Venable was happy to see the big game from Vargas, whose production since the All-Star break has paled in comparison to what made him an All-Star.
“We’re used to Vargy doing that every day,” Venable said. “And so for him to get back to who he is has been nice.”
The victory moved the Sox 3 ½ games ahead of the second-place Tigers.
Urquidy earns win in debut
The Sox called up righty Jose Urquidy from Triple-A Charlotte. Urquidy, whom the club acquired July 26 from the Pirates for righty Felix Doroteo, is best-known for his five seasons with the Astros (2019-23), for whom he pitched in the postseason each year.
Urquidy made his Sox debut in the victory against the Tigers, entering in the second inning after lefty Sean Newcomb started the bullpen game. He allowed three runs and five hits in 3 ⅔ innings, earning the win because he was on the mound when the Sox scored five runs in the fourth to take the lead.
“Urquidy is going to throw strikes,” Venable said. “And with that comes some hits, too. I thought he did a really good job just continuing to compete in the zone. Probably had more in the tank, but he did his job.”
Blister puts Martin on IL
Not everyone believes it, but the blister on right-hander Davis Martin’s middle finger was bad enough for the White Sox to put him on the 15-day injured list Friday.
Martin said he noticed the blister in the second inning of the Sox’ 9-8 loss to the Reds on Thursday. He blamed it and poor command for beaning the Reds’ Sal Stewart, which got him ejected in the third inning.
“There’s a good chunk of skin gone,” Martin said. “A lot of questions popped up where it just made sense to put me on the IL and get it taken care of.”
The Sox continued to plead their case that Martin did not intend to throw at Stewart, even though, in the umpires’ estimation, he admired his homer in his first at-bat a little too long.
More roster moves
The Sox made four other roster moves, sending rookie righty Tanner McDougal back to Charlotte, calling up lefty Tyler Schweitzer, claiming former Red Sox catcher Jake Rogers off waivers and designating lefty Joe Rock for assignment.
After trading for Joey Bart at the deadline, only to watch him get hit by a pitch that broke his left hand, the Sox will give Rogers a try as they wait for Kyle Teel to return from a sprained left ankle.
“Really good defensive catcher,” Venable said of Rogers, who also has played for the Tigers and Orioles this season. “You look at our catching unit, and to be able to add depth is really important for us.”
Rogers is expected to arrive Saturday. He’ll force another roster move, between Edgar Quero and Drew Romo. Quero already has been the odd man out twice this season.