The Chicago White Sox beat the Chicago Cubs 3-0 on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, getting six dominant innings from José Urquidy and timely hitting from Braden Montgomery to claim the crosstown bragging rights. Urquidy allowed just two hits and walked nobody over six frames, striking out eight, while Montgomery drove in both early runs with a 2-for-4 night that did the most damage against a Cubs bullpen that couldn't hold the line. The Sox pitching staff combined for a complete shutout, with Grant Taylor nailing down the save in the ninth.

José Urquidy Carries the White Sox Pitching Staff

Urquidy was the story on the mound. The right-hander went six innings, surrendering two hits, issuing zero walks, and racking up eight strikeouts. That is the kind of outing that wins ballgames against any opponent. Clay Holmes started for the Cubs and went 5.1 innings, allowing six hits and one earned run while walking two batters — good enough to keep Chicago in the game early, but not good enough to keep the Sox off the board when it mattered.

Sean Newcomb opened for the White Sox, throwing two scoreless innings without allowing a hit, though he walked two. Urquidy then took over and was untouchable the rest of the way, putting the game firmly in Chicago's hands before handing it off to Grant Taylor, who struck out two in a clean ninth inning to record the save.

Montgomery and Vargas Provide the Offensive Punch

The Sox offense was efficient if not overwhelming. Miguel Vargas went 2-for-3, getting on base and creating opportunities. Montgomery delivered the most impactful performance at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBI — the difference in a low-scoring game decided by exactly three runs.

On the Cubs side, Tyrone Taylor was the only hitter who gave the Sox any trouble, going 2-for-2. But Chicago's pitching staff kept the Cubs off the scoreboard entirely. Ryan Rolison was the one rough spot for the Sox — he allowed two earned runs on two hits and a walk in 0.2 innings — but the Cubs couldn't capitalize enough to change the outcome. Aaron Civale came in and worked 1.1 innings with two strikeouts and no earned runs allowed, steadying things before Taylor closed it out.

Key Performances at a Glance

  • José Urquidy (W): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
  • Grant Taylor (SV): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
  • Braden Montgomery: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
  • Miguel Vargas: 2-for-3
  • Clay Holmes (L): 5.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

What's Next for the White Sox

The White Sox pick up a quality road win in this crosstown matchup and will look to build on it as the 2026 regular season continues. Urquidy's performance gives the rotation a boost, and Montgomery's run production is the kind of contribution this lineup needs. Watch for how the Sox deploy Taylor in high-leverage spots going forward after another clean outing to close out a shutout.