The Chicago White Sox showcased their strength despite Munetaka Murakami’s absence due to a hamstring injury. Edgar Quero and Colson Montgomery delivered solo home runs, while Andrew Benintendi added a two-run shot in a 7-1 triumph over the Detroit Tigers before a crowd of 29,435 at Rate Field.
These late-game homers marked the team’s fourth consecutive victory, bringing their season record to 31-27, four games above .500. Manager Will Venable praised the team’s resilience, stating, “When these guys create a culture filled with energy, you trust it will endure even when someone is out. They’ve done an exceptional job of building that culture. Today’s game exemplified hard work and belief.”
Prior to the game, the White Sox placed Murakami on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain. He has been a significant contributor with 20 home runs this season and might be sidelined for four to six weeks.
On Saturday, the White Sox demonstrated versatility in scoring. They exploited a brief period of inconsistency from Tigers’ starter Framber Valdez during the first inning, scoring two runs. Chase Meidroth’s double kicked off the inning, followed by walks to Miguel Vargas and Montgomery, loading the bases. Valdez’s wild pitch allowed Meidroth to score, putting the Sox up 1-0. Vargas advanced to third and scored on Edgar Quero’s sacrifice fly.
Detroit’s Wenceel Pérez homered in the third inning, narrowing the gap to 2-1. This was the sole run allowed by White Sox starter Anthony Kay, who managed six hits while walking one and striking out three over five-plus innings. Although the Tigers had potential scoring opportunities in the fourth and fifth innings, Kay successfully induced critical groundballs to prevent them from scoring.
In the sixth inning, with two Tigers on base and no outs, reliever Grant Taylor stepped in effectively. He delivered a strikeout, a flyout, and a groundout, maintaining the White Sox’s slim 2-1 lead. “He pretty much saved the day,” Kay commented on Taylor’s performance. The team then extended their lead with two runs in the seventh. Quero, connecting for his second home run of the season, led off the inning. Benintendi doubled and scored on Rikuu Nishida’s single, increasing the lead to 4-1.
Montgomery and Benintendi both homered in the eighth, further securing the victory. Quero stated, “The team is playing good baseball and maintains a hard-working mindset, unchanged even with Murakami out.”
In a corresponding move, the White Sox called up Jacob Gonzalez from Triple-A Charlotte. The 2023 first-round draft pick celebrated his 24th birthday and approached the occasion with enthusiasm. “Being here feels surreal,” he shared post-game. Although delayed in transit, Gonzalez expressed relief to join the team and mentioned his readiness to contribute. His impressive performance with the Knights, slashing .317/.419/.668, underscores his potential value.
Gonzalez has primarily played shortstop for the Knights but is flexible to fill in at first base. “I’ll play wherever I’m needed,” he stated, underscoring his willingness to support the team’s objectives.