Aaron Civale pitches Chicago White Sox to 1-0 win after Miguel Vargas is scratched with oblique strain

LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune on Aug 3, 2025

Published in Baseball

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ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Chicago White Sox scratched infielder Miguel Vargas from the starting lineup moments before Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels because of a left oblique strain.

The Sox said Vargas was being further evaluated.

The team produced just enough offense in his absence and received an outstanding pitching performance from Aaron Civale for a 1-0 victory in front of 39,161 at Angel Stadium.

Civale, Brandon Eisert and Jordan Leasure combined on a one-hitter as the Sox won their 42nd game, surpassing last year’s victory total.

They earned the win while missing a key member of their offense.

Vargas was originally slated to bat fourth and play first base Saturday. Center fielder Luis Robert Jr. moved from the sixth spot to hit fourth.

He led off the second with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a fly ball to center and scored on a single by Kyle Teel to give the Sox a 1-0 lead.

That would be the game’s only run.

Now the Sox will await word on Vargas, who is slashing .229/.305/.402 with 13 home runs and 44 RBIs in 106 games. The third baseman/first baseman is hitting .296 with three home runs and nine RBIs in 13 games since the All-Star break.

The Sox shuffled most of their infield after Vargas was scratched. Lenyn Sosa moved from second base to first, Josh Rojas went from third to second and Brooks Baldwin shifted from left field to third.

They aided Civale, who allowed one hit in 6 1/3 innings, struck out eight and walked two. The only hit was an infield single by Zach Neto leading off the fourth. Brandon Eisert pitched 1 2/3 hitless innings and Leasure pitched a perfect ninth.

The Sox (42-69) go for the three-game sweep Sunday.