Catcher Kyle Teel will make the White Sox a better team when he comes back.
They were good enough Saturday against the Mariners.
Third baseman Miguel Vargas hit two home runs and shortstop Colson Montgomery another in the Sox’ 6-1 victory that ended a three-game losing streak.
Montgomery hit a two-run homer in the first and Vargas a two-run homer in the third against Mariners starter Luis Castillo. Vargas then added a solo homer against Josh Simpson in the fifth to give him nine, more than half of his 16 in 2025.
‘‘I just want to be a good hitter out there,’’ Vargas said. ‘‘I want to swing at strikes and hit the ball as hard as I can. Whatever happens, whatever the result, is out of my hands.’’
Vargas and Montgomery supported left-hander Anthony Kay, who allowed one run (unearned) in five innings.
‘‘I did a really good job of getting the changeup going early, and that opened up everything else in the inner half of the plate,’’ Kay said. ‘‘That was what led to the success today.’’
As for Teel, it finally looks as though he is getting close to returning.
Sidelined since March 10 with a strained right hamstring suffered while playing for Italy during the World Baseball Classic, Teel ran the bases for a second consecutive day and took live batting practice before the game. If he runs well again Sunday, a rehab assignment is expected to begin soon.
‘‘We’re getting closer, and [we’re] certainly the closest we’ve been,’’ manager Will Venable said. ‘‘We just want to make sure that when he leaves here, he’s in a good spot.’’
Acquired from the Red Sox as part of the Garrett Crochet trade before last season, Teel slashed .273/.375/.411 as rookie in 2025.
‘‘I would argue Kyle Teel is as good a player as we have,’’ Venable said. ‘‘You saw him last year . . . the things he can do offensively, defensively, on the bases. He’s a really good player [whom] we’ll be excited to get back in the lineup.’’
The Sox could use some offense from their catchers. Entering Saturday, their catchers were hitting .154 with a .279 on-base percentage.
The Chase files
Second baseman Chase Meidroth has been bothered by a minor injury to his right foot the last couple of days. Venable said he replaced Meidroth before the ninth inning of the game Friday just to get him off his feet and rested for Saturday.
Meidroth was ready and hit fifth in the Sox’ lineup for the seventh time in their last eight games. Though Meidroth doesn’t have the power of a traditional No. 5 hitter, Venable likes how the lineup shakes out with him in that slot. Sam Antonacci led off, followed by Munetaka Murakami. Vargas hit third, Montgomery fourth and then Meidroth.
‘‘It’s got a good feel at the top of the order there, and Chase is a big part of that,’’ Venable said.
Notes
Andrew Benintendi was scratched with neck stiffness and replaced as designated hitter by Randal Grichuk.
• Outfielder Austin Hays, who is on the injured list with a strained left calf, took batting practice and might run the bases in the next few days.