# Sox blow early lead, fall to Tigers in 11-8 loss

> White Sox collapse after big early lead in 11-8 loss to Tigers
- Title: Sox blow early lead, fall to Tigers in 11-8 loss | Shortify
- Summary: White Sox collapse after big early lead in 11-8 loss to Tigers White Sox lost 11-8 to Tigers after blowing a 8-2 lead in MLB game
- Keywords: white sox, tigers, mlb, al central, sox, hao-yu lee, miguel vargas, tristan peters, will venable, david sandlin, hagen smith, chicago
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/09/18/losing-ugly-sox-blow-big-early-lead-and-lose-to-tigers
- Published: 2026-09-19T04:29:42.847+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: white sox, tigers, mlb, al central, sox, hao-yu lee, miguel vargas, tristan peters, will venable, david sandlin, hagen smith, chicago
## Early lead
White Sox raced to an 8-2 lead after scoring six runs in first inning

> The White Sox were rolling and raced to a huge early lead Friday against the Tigers at Rate Field.
## Bullpen meltdown
Two key relievers failed to hold the lead as Tigers scored 11 runs

> The pitching staff, including two of their go-to relievers all season, melted down in an ugly 11-8 loss
## Tigers rally
Tigers scored five runs in eighth inning with two homers to take lead

> The Tigers narrowed their deficit to 8-6 on an RBI double by Hao-Yu Lee against left-hander Chris Murphy in the sixth
## Tristan Peters injury
All-Star outfielder Tristan Peters left game with bruised shoulder after hitting wall

> All-Star outfielder Tristan Peters, who was playing right, hit the wall hard trying to snare McGonigle’s drive and left the game
## Pitcher struggles
Starting pitcher David Sandlin gave up three runs in four innings

> Sandlin said, 'I mean, that’s what you ask for as a starting pitcher. Those guys went to work for me, and I couldn’t go to work for them at the end of the day.'
## Bullpen collapse
Bullpen failed to contain Tigers after scoring 11 runs

> The Sox’ bullpen certainly didn’t save this one, either. The Tigers narrowed their deficit to 8-6 on an RBI double by Hao-Yu Lee against left-hander Chris Murphy in the sixth
## Tigers surge
Tigers scored five runs in eighth inning with two homers

> Lee smacked a two-run shot to right off left-hander Sean Newcomb’s center-cut high fastball to tie the score 8-8
## Sox playoff push
Sox dropped to 78-76 with 6-13 record since August 29

> The Sox, now 78-76, are 6-13 since Aug. 29, when they peaked at nine games above .500 (72-63) with a victory against the Twins in Minnesota
## Manager reaction
Manager Will Venable admitted pitching staff couldn’t hold lead

> ‘‘That’s tough, no way about it,’’ manager Will Venable said. ‘‘We obviously have a special first inning there and get the lead. [Then Vargas] with a nice homer. And then, yeah, just weren’t able to get any outs.’’
## Hao-Yu Lee's homer
Lee hit two-run homer to tie game in eighth inning

> Lee smacked a two-run shot to right off left-hander Sean Newcomb’s center-cut high fastball to tie the score 8-8
## Riley Greene's homer
Greene hit two-run homer to complete Tigers rally

> Greene launched his 21st homer to complete the rally
## Key takeaway

White Sox lost 11-8 to Tigers after blowing a 8-2 lead in MLB game