White Sox Triumph in Dramatic City Series Rubber Game

The climax of the City Series came on a dramatic Sunday afternoon at Rate Field. The game saw several lead changes, amplifying the excitement for a sellout crowd of 38,608 fans. The White Sox took the lead in the eighth inning courtesy of a three-run home run by Tristan Peters, marking the first home run of his career. However, the Cubs answered in the ninth inning with a game-tying, three-run home run from Michael Conforto.

Edgar Quero, the Sox catcher enduring a significant batting slump, became the hero in the 10th inning. He delivered a walk-off, two-run home run against Cubs reliever Ryan Rolison, sealing a 9-8 win for the Sox. Prior to this game, Quero had a .151 batting average and had only one extra-base hit this season. His performance included his first home run of the year, capping a three-hit day.

It feels amazing, Quero said. Right away, when I hit the ball, I knew it was going deep. I didn’t know it was a homer. The field is pretty big in that part. It was really good contact.

Quero expressed happiness for both himself and the team. He had spent two days on the bench but remained supportive and focused. With visualization techniques, he anticipated a strong performance.

The White Sox players jubilantly celebrated with Quero at home plate after his two-run homer. This victory on May 17, 2026, marked their first series win against the Cubs since 2022.

Sox manager Will Venable highlighted the series’ significance, emphasizing the desire to perform well for both the win and the fans. The team had secured three consecutive series victories against Seattle, Kansas City, and now the Cubs.

When you give up nine runs, that’s too many, said Cubs manager Craig Counsell. It was a good baseball game. We were just on the losing end.

The game featured numerous twists. The Cubs started strong with Nico Hoerner’s single followed by Michael Busch’s home run, giving them an early 2-0 lead. Alex Bregman’s run made it 3-0 before the Sox even batted. The Sox responded in the second inning with an RBI single by Quero. The Cubs extended their lead to 4-1 in the fourth inning with an RBI single from Bregman.

The White Sox began their comeback in the fourth inning. Miguel Vargas was hit by a pitch, reached second on a groundout, and scored on Benintendi’s double. In the fifth, Vargas tied the game at 4 with a crucial two-run double.

It stayed tied until the eighth. Benintendi’s walk, followed by Quero’s single, set the stage for Peters. Known for his defense and sacrifice bunting, Peters swung hard against Cubs reliever Phil Maton, hitting a three-run home run for a 7-4 lead.

The Cubs tied it up again in the ninth with a three-run home run by Conforto, emphasizing the intense competition between both teams. Conforto took advantage of a 3-1 count to deliver his clutch hit.

In the 10th inning, Dansby Swanson scored, giving the Cubs an 8-7 lead. But Quero’s game-winning homer in the bottom half clinched the win for the Sox, delighting the home crowd and the team.

It means a lot for everybody in the clubhouse, Quero expressed. I’m happy for this team. The home run ranks alongside his major league debut as a significant personal achievement.