\u201cThis whole series has felt like a playoff series,\u201d Montgomery said. \u201cBut then I look at the calendar and we are not even past All-Star break yet. It\u2019s a good learning experience for down the road.\u201d<\/p>\n
Miguel Vargas had one RBI and one run on the day he became a first-time All-Star<\/a>, helping the Sox (46-42) pull back into a first-place tie with the Guardians (47-43) in the American League Central.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery game you play that\u2019s close like this, there\u2019s situations, scenarios where you know you\u2019re going to have to execute and really be challenged to get the job done,\u201d manager Will Venable said. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen this series, how close these games are and I think there\u2019s something to learn from each one of these games.\u201d<\/p>\n Although he didn\u2019t factor in the decision, starter Sean Burke provided much-needed length for the Sox. The right-hander allowed one run on seven hits with no walks and a career-high 11 strikeouts in six innings.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t know it was that many (strikeouts),\u201d Burke said. \u201c(It\u2019s) getting back to being simple and attacking the zone, getting the two-strike counts. See some of the chase and guys get in between and take some stuff in zone. Putting them on their heels and getting them in bad counts, it will be easier to rack those up.\u201d<\/p>\n The Sox gave Burke a one-run cushion in the first inning when Vargas walked and then scored from first on a Montgomery double.<\/p>\n The Guardians tied the score on an Austin Hedges home run with one out in the fifth. Steven Kwan followed with a triple. But Burke got Travis Bazzana to hit a grounder with the infield in to second baseman Chase Meidroth. The Sox caught Kwan in a rundown between third and home and tagged him out.<\/p>\n Burke then struck out Chase DeLauter to end the inning.<\/p>\n \u201cHe just filled up the zone,\u201d Venable said of Burke\u2019s outing. \u201cThat was the game plan coming in. Part of beating these guys is limiting walks. Obviously he did that. Knew it was going to be about continuing to pound the zone. If you get ahead, just continue to throw strikes.<\/p>\n \u201cYou do that, it comes at a cost, there were some two-strike hits. Totally fine with that. Just want to limit the walks and he did a great job with that.\u201d<\/p>\n Montgomery broke the tie when he led off the eighth with his 22nd home run of the season.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, I felt pretty comfortable at the plate,\u201d Montgomery said. \u201cI was more committed to my plan than most days. I feel like I\u2019ve been pretty inconsistent with my approach and things like that. Today I just felt pretty committed to my plan.\u201d<\/p>\n The Sox received a little breathing room in the ninth when Tristan Peters doubled, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Vargas to make it 3-1.<\/p>\n Brandon Eisert and Grant Taylor pitched well out of the bullpen to secure the win. Eisert struck out two over two perfect innings and was credited with the victory. Taylor struck out one in the ninth on the way to his third save of the season.<\/p>\n \u201cBoth really good,\u201d Venable said. \u201cFirst of all, Eisert was amazing. To get two innings from him there, and quality innings, was huge. We were really, really thin in the pen tonight. It was kind of his job to step up tonight, and he did in a big way.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then great to see from Grant, his ability to bounce back after a tough one a couple of days ago (when he surrendered a two-run walk-off home run<\/a>). He did a great job and was able to close that thing up for us.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"White](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/CTC-Z-SOX-CLE_5bc5f6.jpg\")
White Sox starter Sean Burke, left, tags out the Guardians’ Steven Kwan during a rundown between third base and the plate in the fifth inning Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Cleveland. (Sue Ogrocki\/AP)<\/p>\n