White Sox Power Surge Over Rays in 6-1 Victory

The Chicago White Sox defeated the American League-leading Tampa Bay Rays 6–1. Miguel Vargas opened the scoring with a 433-foot solo shot, followed by Andrew Benintendi’s second-inning homer. In the third, rookie Munetaka Murakami hit his 24th career homer, tying Kazuma Okamoto for the Japanese rookie home-run record. Colson Montgomery capped the scoring in the sixth with a two-run blast over the Tropicana Field wall.

ESPNChisox bombs take sting out of the Rays in 6-1 rout White Sox 6, Rays 1: Boppin’ in the Trop

Pitcher Erick Fedde (6-6) delivered five quality innings, striking out six and allowing one run on four hits. Relievers Alex Cook and Chris Roycroft combined for three scoreless innings to preserve the win. Tampa Bay’s only run came from Junior Caminero’s 30th home run of the season in the fourth inning.

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• Vargas, Murakami and Montgomery each homered, marking the fifth game this season the trio has done so together—a feat last achieved by the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager and Joc Pederson in 2019.

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• Murakami’s 24 home runs and .381 on-base percentage in 74 career games match the best career stretch in MLB history held by Yordan Alvarez.

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• Caminero’s homer gave him back-to-back 30-homer seasons, a milestone not seen for a Rays player since Carlos Peña (2007-09).

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• The White Sox set a franchise record by having three players each homer in the same game for the second time this year; the first occurrence was by Joe Crede, Paul Konerko and José Valentín in 2004.

White Sox 6, Rays 1: Boppin’ in the Trop

White Sox manager Will Venable noted the team’s limited roster availability but praised the “awesome” defensive effort that produced key outs. Starting pitcher Erick Fedde said the early lead allowed him to focus on “quality innings” and keep the game close, emphasizing the “unbelievable” power of the lineup.

White Sox 6, Rays 1: Boppin’ in the Trop

Munetaka Murakami announced a charitable initiative tied to the recent Kumamoto earthquake, stating he will donate his game-used gear for auction to benefit the community and the disaster-stricken region.

White Sox 6, Rays 1: Boppin’ in the Trop

The Rays will send right-hander Drew Rasmussen (9-5, 3.07 ERA) to the mound on Saturday, while Chicago will start left-hander Noah Schultz (3-7, 6.15 ERA).

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• “It shows that I’m getting a good approach at-bat and having good timing on the breaking balls,” — Munetaka Murakami

White Sox 6, Rays 1: Boppin’ in the Trop

• “It felt like another homer, to me,” — Colson Montgomery

White Sox 6, Rays 1: Boppin’ in the Trop

• “They make my job easy when they give me big leads and I know if I can put up quality innings and keep it close, they are probably going to add on," Fedde said.” — Erick Fedde

White Sox 6, Rays 1: Boppin’ in the Trop

• “We were really limited tonight with our availability, and to come through like that with the coverage, but also really good performance and getting some big outs there was awesome,” — Venable

White Sox 6, Rays 1: Boppin’ in the Trop

• “For the charity for the White Sox, I’m donating my gear I use in the game so it can be auctioned off and given back to the community and for Kumamoto itself,” — Munetaka Murakami

White Sox 6, Rays 1: Boppin’ in the Trop