There was a stretch early in Sunday night’s game when the White Sox simply couldn’t cash in.
By the time it ended, those early troubles seemed so far away.
Despite stranding 14 runners, the White Sox (75-68) overwhelmed the Minnesota Twins, 10-1, to take the series and maintain their 2½-game lead in the AL Central.
And they did it on a bullpen night when manager Will Venable entered the game with all hands on deck.
“We haven’t mapped out exactly where we’re at yet,” Venable said on WMVP’s pregame show. “We’re expecting everyone to be available. So, we’re going to mix and match and see what we can do.”
It all started with Bryan Hudson.
Hudson was one of five bullpen arms to pitch for the Sox, with Hagen Smith (3-1) picking up the win after tossing three scoreless innings and striking out four.
While the bullpen gave the team a much-needed boost on the mound heading into Monday’s off day, the hitters made things a little more challenging early.
The Sox became only the second team in 2026, joining the New York Yankees, to strand six runners in scoring position through the first nine batters of a game.
In fact, the team was 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position before Munetaka Murakami singled home Sam Antonacci, who had hit the second of his three doubles in the fifth inning.
Antonacci became the fifth White Sox player to hit three doubles in a game, joining Michael A. Taylor (2025), Conor Gillaspie (2014), Paul Konerko (2012) and Earl Sheely (1926). As an interesting side note, all three of Antonacci’s doubles left the bat at less than 95 mph.
The Sox broke open the game in the sixth when Antonacci’s two-bagger plated Tristan Peters and Chase Meidroth. Randal Grichuk’s pinch-hit single scored Antonacci to extend the lead to 4-0.
The Twins (68-75) cut into the lead with a Brooks Lee home run off Grant Taylor in the top of the seventh.
Twins manager Derek Shelton, whose team entered play six games behind the White Sox and 4½ games out of a wild-card spot, said that while the White Sox sit atop the division, they aren’t Minnesota’s No. 1 priority.
“We need to focus on ourselves,” Shelton told Peacock reporter Ahmed Fareed during the game.
On a night dominated by the Pale Hose, however, the Twins could muster only four hits.
That definitely wasn’t the case for the Sox.
Leading 5-1 in the bottom of the eighth, the White Sox blew the game wide open with five runs, highlighted by home runs from Grichuk and Kyle Teel.
The White Sox also drew 10 walks, matching a season high.
After Sunday night’s win, the team’s magic number sits at 17 heading into Tuesday night’s home matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates (71-73).
Key Hitters
Twins
- Brooks Lee: 2-for-3, run
- Royce Lewis: 1-for-3
- Gabriel Gonzalez: 1-for-1
White Sox
- Sam Antonacci: 3-for-4, 3 2Bs, 2 RBI, 2 runs
- Miguel Vargas: 2-for-5, RBI
- Randal Grichuk: 2-for-2, HR, 2 RBI
- Tristan Peters: 3-for-5, 3 runs
- Kyle Teel: 1-for-5, HR, 3 RBI
Notes:
- White Sox: Sam Antonacci has reached base in 24 of his last 27 games.
- The birthday boy, Jordan Hicks, pitched 1⅓ innings with three strikeouts on his 30th trip around the sun.
- Before the game, the White Sox placed outfielder Tommy Pham on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Sept. 3, with a left calf strain and recalled catcher Edgar Quero from Class AAA Charlotte. Quero pinch-hit for Antonacci late in the game.
- The White Sox finished the night 5-for-21 with runners in scoring position. The Sox rank 10th in the majors with a .236 average with RISP. The Atlanta Braves lead MLB at .248.
- Smith also threw two scoreless innings in relief against the Twins in Friday’s 4-1 win. In 10 games, Smith is 3-1 with a 0.56 ERA over 16 innings.
- The White Sox finished the 13-game series against the Twins with an 8-5 record.
Next Game
The White Sox have an off day Monday before opening a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Rate Field on Tuesday. Probable pitchers are Bubba Chandler (6-9, 4.30 ERA) and Sean Burke (8-6, 3.20 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m.
Promotions: It’s $5 Tuesday at Rate Field. The White Sox will also host Dog Day, sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and Notre Dame Night.
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Featured Photo: White Sox
