The White Sox defeated the Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Tuesday night in an 11-5 victory that briefly resembled a Home Run Derby for the South Siders.
White Sox Unleash Early Offence
The White Sox scored four runs in the first inning off Merrill Kelly. This was followed by a powerful display in the second.
Munetaka Murakami hit a 426-foot home run to right field with a 113 mph exit velocity. Miguel Vargas followed with a 372-foot drive to left field with a 111.7 mph exit velocity. Colson Montgomery then completed the trifecta with a 440-foot shot and a 107.2 mph exit velocity.
It marked the first time the White Sox went back to back to back since September 19, 2020.
Murakami’s Record-Setting Streak
Murakami’s home run was his fourth straight, and he seems to be setting records with each game played. His nine home runs are the most of any Japanese-born player in his first 23 MLB games. This is three more than Shohei Ohtani, who had six in his first 23 games as a hitter.
- Murakami became the 23rd White Sox player to homer in 4-plus straight games.
- He joined Ohtani and Seiya Suzuki as the only Japanese-born players to homer in four straight games.
If Murakami homers again, he will equal the longest streak by an MLB rookie, done 12 times, including by Ron Kittle with the White Sox in 1983. Murakami also would match the White Sox individual mark of five straight games with a home run.
A.J. Pierzynski (2012), Paul Konerko (2011), Carlos Lee (2003), Frank Thomas (twice in 1994), Kittle (1983) and Greg Luzinski (1983) have already homered in five straight for the White Sox.
Team Effort Fuels White Sox’s Success
Over the last four games, the White Sox have knocked out 12 homers, including Sam Antonacci’s ninth-inning inside-the-park homer, the first of his career. Over the prior 10 games, they hit just six.
“We’re very much connecting from top to bottom in the lineup,” said Murakami through interpreter Kenzo Yagi. “It’s just really important that we continue as a team to get good results.”
“Yeah, I was trying to hit a homer. I tried in that scenario,” Montgomery said. “The guy was throwing great pitches. It was just one of those nights where we were flowing, the hits were contagious, the homers were contagious.”
On Tuesday, Murakami singled twice, walked and scored two runs, raising his OPS to .978.
“I still have a lot of pitchers that I’ve faced for the first time,” Murakami said. “But I’m really analyzing the pitchers with as much as possible so that I’m getting ready into the at-bat. I’ll just try to keep doing whatever I’m doing right now.”
The White Sox appear to be getting going as the weather warms up.