Munetaka Murakami powers White Sox to 12-3 win over Astros
Munetaka Murakami hit two home runs and drove in five runs as Chicago White Sox defeated the Houston Astros 12-3, extending their AL Central lead to 2½ games.
Munetaka Murakami delivered a two-home-run, five-RBI performance in the Chicago White Sox’s 12-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Tuesday, helping the team widen its AL Central lead to a season-high 2½ games. Murakami, who had not homered since May 27, opened the scoring with a two-run shot in the first inning and added a solo homer later in the game.
The White Sox broke a five-game homer drought and held off an Astros rally that included three solo home runs in the sixth inning. Reliever Sean Newcomb loaded the bases early in the sixth but escaped without allowing a run, and the bullpen combined for 4⅔ scoreless innings after that point.
White Sox pitcher Erick Fedde, who worked 4⅓ innings in relief, allowed three runs but kept the Astros from building a larger lead. He praised the bullpen, saying, "Bullpen's been great, they've been great all year. I feel like they're not talked about as much, but they've really been so good."
Miguel Vargas, who hit a two-run homer in the sixth, commented on the team's division standing, noting the importance of winning each game as the club prepares for a challenging stretch of opponents.
The win follows a loss to the Cleveland Guardians earlier in the day, and the White Sox now sit atop the AL Central with a 2½-game advantage.