MIAMI — Miguel Vargas resides in Miami.
The Chicago White Sox first baseman had a heck of a return to the area Monday, clobbering a grand slam as part of an evening that included two hits and six RBIs.
Austin Hays also hit a three-run home run for the Sox, who earned their first win of the season by defeating the Miami Marlins 9-4 in front of 6,515 at LoanDepot Park.
“It feels great, especially to have my family here and a couple of friends that never watched me play in the big leagues,” Vargas said. “It’s super fun, and I’m very proud to accomplish what we accomplished today, and keep doing it as a team.”
Vargas became the first Sox player with six RBIs in a game since Seby Zavala on July 31, 2021, against Cleveland.
“It was a special night,” manager Will Venable said. “He had a lot of people here. He was excited to be out there like he is every day, but just a really nice performance. Controlled the zone, obviously some big swings. Did a really nice job.”
The Cuban-born Vargas estimated he had around 40 supporters in attendance for the game.
“A lot of people, they’ve been supporting me my entire career, and I love playing in front of them, for sure,” Vargas said.
He gave them something to cheer about with two outs in the third inning when he flipped a ball just over shortstop Otto Lopez’s head for an RBI single.
Munetaka Murakami then reached on an infield single. Hays followed with the three-run home run to right field, his first of the season.
“That’s huge, to keep fighting there and continue to put quality at-bats together,” Venable said of the two-out success. “Get good results when you’re able to do that, the guys did a great job tonight.”
Tristan Peters and Everson Pereira singled to start the fourth inning. And with one out, Luisangel Acuña was hit by a pitch. That brought Vargas up with the bases loaded.
He launched a 3-1 changeup from Marlins starter Chris Paddack well over the left-field wall for a 402-foot grand slam, putting the Sox ahead 8-0.
“I was pretty confident in trying to get a good pitch and trying to drive (in) some runs,” Vargas said.
It was the second grand slam in as many days for a Sox player. Colson Montgomery hit one in the first inning Sunday in Milwaukee. It’s the fourth time in franchise history the Sox hit a slam in back-to-back games and the first since they did it in three in a row from June 23-25, 2006, according to Stats Perform.
The Sox couldn’t hold on to Sunday’s large lead, losing 9-7. Davis Martin and relievers Sean Newcomb and Jordan Hicks made sure that didn’t happen again Monday.
Martin allowed three runs on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks in five innings to earn the win in his first start of the season.
“Once you get the eight-spot it turns into, ‘Hey, how can we attack the zone as efficiently as possible?'” Martin said. “‘How can we get guys in and out of the box?’ And knowing where our bullpen situation was, just try to get as deep in the game as I could.”
Acuña’s legs contributed to Vargas’ sixth RBI, which gave the Sox a 9-3 lead. Acuña walked with one out in the sixth and stole second and third. He scored on Vargas’ sacrifice fly to shallow right field, sliding in safely just ahead of the throw.
Vargas topped his previous high of four RBIs, which he accomplished on Aug. 28 last season against the New York Yankees.
He was happy Monday’s big night came in a victory as the Sox improved to 1-3.
“It means a lot,” Vargas said. “It was a slow start, and then I think last couple games, we’ve been doing a really good job, especially trusting the guy next to you, behind you, getting on base and doing the right things for winning baseball games. I think we’re in the right spot right now.”
Venable added: “It was a tough series in Milwaukee, turning the page on that, taking the lessons we can to tighten some things up. But nice to come out and play a good, clean ballgame and guys did a great job.”
