White Sox Win Ugly on 1983 Celebration Day with Walk-Off Victory Over Royals
Jé Tania
June 28, 2026
CHICAGO — The 1983 White Sox were known for “Winning Ugly,” a team that won with pitching, defense, timely hitting, and just enough offense.
Forty-three years later, on a day celebrating that club, the 2026 White Sox turned back the clock.
One night after hanging 22 runs on Kansas City, the White Sox traded fireworks for fundamentals, grinding out a 2-1 victory built on dominant pitching, aggressive baserunning, defensive gems, and a walk-off single from Jacob Gonzalez.
One night they won with power. The next, they won with precision.
For one afternoon, “Winning Ugly” wasn’t just a slogan from the past. It was the blueprint for another White Sox victory.
Davis Martin continued building what is becoming an All-Star case, allowing four hits over 5 1/3 scoreless innings before giving way to Sean Newcomb. Martin’s job wasn’t just to keep Kansas City off the board, it was to carry over the momentum from Friday’s offensive explosion. He did exactly that, matching Michael Wacha pitch for pitch.
Wacha was equally impressive for Kansas City. After the Royals’ bullpen absorbed Friday night’s beating, the veteran right-hander delivered exactly what they needed, working 7 2/3 innings and keeping Chicago off balance for most of the afternoon.
Davis Martin of the White Sox stares down a Royals batter at Rate Field on June 27, 2026. (Image via Chicago White Sox Instagram)
The game finally broke open in the seventh. Tyler Tolbert entered as a pinch runner, stole second, third, but the White Sox answered with one of the defensive plays of the day. On a squeeze attempt, Newcomb gloved the bunt and flipped home to Drew Romo, who tagged Tolbert at the plate. Kansas City eventually scratched across a run on Carter Jensen’s RBI single, but Romo’s awareness ended the inning by cutting down another runner trying to advance to third.
Chicago answered immediately. Andrew Benintendi singled, Luisangel Acuña entered as a pinch runner, Chase Meidroth followed with a single, and Braden Montgomery tied the game with an RBI fielder’s choice.
Some relievers earn opportunities.
Others demand them.
Grant Taylor slammed the door from there, retiring all six batters he faced while striking out four, including Jac Caglianone and Lane Thomas. Taylor needed just nine pitches to work a perfect eighth inning, and with each dominant appearance, he continues to make a compelling case to become the White Sox’s closer.
In the ninth, the kids finished it. Colson Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, and Braden Montgomery loaded the bases before Gonzalez lined the first walk-off hit of his career into left-center, giving the White Sox a 2-1 victory.
The Final Cut
It was the White Sox’s seventh walk-off win of the season, delivered by their seventh different player before the calendar even reached July. Fittingly, it came off the bat of Jacob Gonzalez, who wears No. 7.
Whether you believe in signs or not, seven has long been considered the number of completion. One night after wondering if there might be a little divine intervention on the South Side, the White Sox completed another chapter in what’s becoming a remarkable season.
On 1983 Day at Rate Field, there couldn’t have been a more fitting way to win ugly.
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