Munetaka Murakami homers and White Sox go deep 4 times to back Noah
Schultz in 7-4 win over A's
[April 20, 2026]
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Rookie Munetaka Murakami and Miguel
Vargas hit two of Chicago's four home runs off Jeffrey Springs, and
rookie Noah Schultz allowed one hit over five innings for his first
major league win as the Chicago White Sox beat the Athletics 7-4 on
Sunday. |
Chicago White Sox's Munetaka Murakami, center, celebrates after hitting
a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against
the Athletics, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP
Photo/Sara Nevis) |
|
Making his second career start, Schultz (1-1) gave up Darell
Hernaiz's solo home run in the second inning. The left-hander
struck out six and walked one in the rubber game of the series.
Vargas led off with a single in the fifth and Murakami followed
with his third homer of the series and eighth of the season — a
425-foot shot to right field. Colson Montgomery homered with two
outs — his fifth — for a 7-1 lead.
Murakami has more home runs than any Japanese-born player
through his first 22 games. He hit his first grand slam in a 9-2
victory on Friday.
Zach Gelof hit a two-out, two-run double off Chicago's Grant
Taylor in the seventh. Jordan Leasure entered and threw a wild
pitch to score Gelof and make it 7-4 before retiring Jacob
Wilson on a foul popup. Bryan Hudson pitched the eighth and
Seranthony Domínguez retired Wilson on a fly ball to center
field with two on in the ninth for his fourth save in six
opportunities.
Chase Meidroth singled leading off the game against Springs
(3-1) before scoring on Edgar Quero's bases-loaded sacrifice
fly.
Derek Hill hit his first home run — a one-out solo shot — and
Vargas hit his third for a 4-0 advantage in the second.
Springs, who came in with a 1.46 ERA through four starts, saw it
climb to 3.34 after surrendering seven runs on nine hits in five
innings. He didn't allow a homer in his first 24 2/3 innings.
Up next
Athletics RHP J.T. Ginn (0-0, 3.31 ERA) starts Monday at Seattle
against Mariners RHP Emerson Hancock (2-1, 2.28).
White Sox RHP Sean Burke (0-2, 4.43) starts Tuesday at Arizona.
RHP Merrill Kelly (1-0, 3.38) pitches for the Diamondbacks.
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