Munetaka Murakami’s MLB-leading 13th HR fuels Chicago White Sox to 8-2 win: ‘Centerpiece of the team’
SAN DIEGO — Munetaka Murakami is keeping his major-league lead in home runs in perspective.
“It’s the start of May and it’s a long season,” the Chicago White Sox slugger said through an interpreter on Friday.
Murakami hit his MLB-leading 13th home run of the season, a three-run blast, and Colson Montgomery added a solo homer as the White Sox began May with an 8-2 victory against the San Diego Padres in front of a sellout crowd of 43,638 at Petco Park.
“When you have guys in the middle of the order that are able to change the score with one swing, obviously it’s going to make a big difference,” Sox manager Will Venable said. “Really proud of the guys around them, too. Just quality at-bats throughout the lineup. Working counts, making good swing decisions.
“When we’re clicking top to bottom like that, and we’re seeing the power along with quality at-bats with the rest of the lineup, we can be tough to deal with.”
Murakami’s homer capped a six-run second inning for the Sox, who have won a season-high four straight.
“I’m really glad we can kick off May like this and I hope we can continue the month like that,” Murakami said.
Starter Noah Schultz made the most of the run support. The left-hander allowed two hits, struck out two and walked three in six scoreless innings while improving to 2-1.
In his fourth major-league start, Schultz worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first. And then the Sox exploded for the big second inning.
“You can’t really ask for anything more than that,” Schultz said.
Montgomery started the inning with a walk. Chase Meidroth doubled to right field, giving the Sox runners on second and third.
Sam Antonacci knocked in Montgomery with a single to right field. Meidroth advanced to third on the hit.
Austin Hays then hit a grounder to third baseman Manny Machado . The Padres got a force at second base while Meidroth decided to take off for home. Second baseman Fernando Tatis Jr.’s throw to the plate was off target, and Meidroth scored to extend the Sox lead to 2-0.
Walks to Tristan Peters and Drew Romo loaded the bases for Andrew Benintendi , who brought home Hays with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Murakami followed with the three-run home run on a 3-2 knuckle curve from Padres starter Germán Márquez .
“We had guys put the ball in play hard, we had guys take the walks, really just took what Germán gave us and, again, stringing together one quality at-bat after the other,” Venable said. “And then you get through the lineup and here comes Mune. It’s a real difference maker. We love the Mune slug there, but really credit the guys ahead of him for wearing down the starter.”
Montgomery’s home run in the fifth, which gave the Sox a 7-0 lead, was his ninth of the season.
“He’s a centerpiece of the team,” Murakami said of Montgomery.
Montgomery said of Murakami, “We knew he was going to be a guy that can make an impact in the clubhouse and on the field.”
While the offense was clicking, Schultz settled in on the mound. The only hits he allowed were both to Tatis, a single in the third and a triple in the sixth, as the Sox (15-17) started a six-game trip on a strong note.
“It’s just an amazing time we are having and winning games,” Schultz said.
