Vargas' grand slam powers White Sox to first win of season

Chicago beats Miami 9-4 behind six RBIs from leadoff hitter Vargas

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:18am

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An abstract, expressionist painting in neon colors depicting the powerful swing and impact of a baseball player, capturing the raw energy and motion of the moment.Vargas' grand slam blast ignites the White Sox offense in their first win of the season.Chicago Today

Miguel Vargas hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high six runs, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 9-4 victory over the Miami Marlins on Monday night for their first win of the season. Austin Hays also hit a three-run homer as the White Sox jumped out to an 8-0 lead. Liam Hicks homered and had three RBIs for the Marlins.

Why it matters

The White Sox were looking to bounce back after a tough start to the season, while the Marlins were aiming to continue their strong opening week. Vargas' big night at the plate provided a much-needed offensive spark for Chicago.

The details

Batting leadoff, Vargas drove in Everson Pereira with a single in the third inning before Hays' three-run shot made it 4-0. Vargas then broke the game open with a grand slam in the fourth, giving the White Sox an 8-0 cushion. Luisangel Acuña scored in the sixth on Vargas' sacrifice fly. Davis Martin (1-0) earned the win for Chicago, allowing three runs over five innings with six strikeouts.

  • The game was played on Monday, March 31, 2026.

The players

Miguel Vargas

A 24-year-old outfielder for the Chicago White Sox who hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high six runs in the win.

Austin Hays

A 27-year-old outfielder for the Chicago White Sox who hit a three-run home run in the game.

Davis Martin

The 25-year-old starting pitcher for the Chicago White Sox who earned the win, allowing three runs over five innings with six strikeouts.

Liam Hicks

A 29-year-old infielder for the Miami Marlins who hit a two-run home run and had three RBIs in the loss.

Chris Paddack

The 27-year-old starting pitcher for the Miami Marlins who took the loss, giving up eight runs and eight hits in four innings.

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What they’re saying

“We needed a game like this to get us going. Vargas was huge at the plate, and the whole team fed off his energy.”

— Tony La Russa, Manager, Chicago White Sox

What’s next

The White Sox and Marlins will continue their three-game series on Tuesday night, with Chicago RHP Erick Fedde facing Miami RHP Janson Junk.

The takeaway

Vargas' grand slam and six-RBI performance provided a much-needed offensive boost for the White Sox, who were looking to bounce back after a tough start to the season. The win evens Chicago's record at 1-1, while the Marlins suffered their first loss of the year.