Tim Elko made his first big-league hit a memorable one. The 26-year-old slugger belted a three-run home run in the sixth inning Sunday afternoon to lift the Chicago White Sox to a 4-2 victory over the Miami Marlins at Guaranteed Rate Field. The win gave Chicago its third series victory of the season and served as a much-needed rebound after getting swept in four games at Kansas City.
Elko, who made his MLB debut on Saturday, came up in a 1-1 game with one out and two runners on. Matt Thaiss had singled to start the inning and moved to third on Joshua Palacios’ one-out base hit. On just the second pitch of his at-bat, Elko turned on a curveball and launched it into the seats in left-center field, breaking the tie and igniting the White Sox dugout.
“It’s something you dream about,” Elko said postgame. “To come through for the team in that spot — and to have it be my first hit — it’s just surreal.”
The Marlins struck first in the fourth inning when Xavier Edwards singled home Matt Mervis to tie the game at 1-1. Edwards finished 2 for 4 with a stolen base and continues to be one of Miami’s few bright spots in a tough season.
The White Sox had taken a brief lead earlier in the third when Andrew Vaughn singled home Chase Meidroth, who went 2 for 4 with a double.
A key defensive play helped Chicago escape further damage in the top of the sixth. With two outs and runners on the corners, catcher Matt Thaiss picked off Nick Fortes at third base, preserving the 1-1 tie just before Elko’s go-ahead homer.
Mike Vasil (2-1) earned the win in relief for the White Sox, allowing one run on three hits over three innings. Cam Booser worked a scoreless ninth to notch his first save of the season.
Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara (2-5) was charged with the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks across 5 2/3 innings. He struck out eight.
The Marlins will stay in Chicago but shift to the North Side for a three-game set against the Cubs starting Monday. Cal Quantrill (2-3, 7.11 ERA) gets the ball against Colin Rea (2-0, 2.43 ERA). The White Sox head to Cincinnati to open a series Tuesday, with Jonathan Cannon (2-4, 4.09 ERA) set to face the Reds’ Andrew Abbott (2-0, 2.25 ERA).
