Munetaka Murakami’s 3-run HR helps Chicago White Sox move into tie for 1st in AL Central with 3-1 win
· Yahoo Sports
Munetaka Murakami had been in a funk.
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The Chicago White Sox first baseman entered Thursday with just nine hits in his last 95 at-bats — a .095 average — with 50 strikeouts in his last 27 games.
He batted in a big spot early, coming up with two on and two outs in the first inning.
Murakami delivered, hitting a three-run home run to lead the Sox to a 3-1 victory against the Detroit Tigers in front of 18,472 at Rate Field.
“First and foremost the team won,” Murakami said through an interpreter. “So that’s the best thing about it. I’m relieved we got the win.”
With the win, the Sox pulled into a first-place tie with the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central. Both teams have nine games remaining in the regular season. The Sox hold the tiebreaker edge by winning the season series. Their magic number for the division title is nine.
“It’s been a really great experience overall,” Murakami said of competing for postseason play. “We are at a spot where we can go into the postseason and also maybe become a division champion. Out of my baseball career, this is something that would really help my career.
“This experience overall is something that can’t be explained into words.”
He nearly didn’t get a plate appearance in the first inning. With one out and runners on first and second, Randal Grichuk hit a grounder to third. The Tigers got a force at second, but Javier Báez did not make a throw to first.
The fielder’s choice extended the inning for Murakami, who hit a first-pitch sinker from Framber Valdez 423 feet to center field for the three-run blast. It was his team-leading 32nd home run of the season.
“A nice homer there from Mune,” manager Will Venable said. “He’s been working so hard, and obviously he hasn’t performed like he wants to and everyone expects him to. But he’s continuing to work, he’s continuing to have a good attitude. It paid off tonight.
“He’s making adjustments. Some mechanical stuff, some setup stuff. I think obviously he was rewarded with it tonight. He’ll continue to work. With these guys, it just really never stops. Even with the good game, you’re working every day to find your best swing and tonight it worked out for him.”
Murakami finished 2-for-4, adding a triple in the eighth.
The Sox relied on their pitching and defense the rest of the game.
“I want to give some credit to (Grichuk in left field),” Sox starter Erick Fedde said. “I think tonight, his play keeping Gleyber (Torres) at first (on a ball that hit off the wall in the fifth inning) saved me a run.”
Fedde surrendered the long single to Torres and then a double to Dillon Dingler. He exited with two on and two out and the Sox leading 3-1. Bryan Hudson struck out Riley Greene.
Fedde allowed one run on four hits in 4 2/3 innings.
“These are some of the most important games I’ve ever got to pitch in my life,” he said. “Pitching for first place today, that’s as good as it gets. And them trusting me with the ball and to start means everything.”
Grichuk made another strong throw in the sixth to nail Spencer Torkelson as he tried to extend a hit into a double.
“I go out there every day and work on my defense,” Grichuk said. “I think I’m an average outfielder in this game. I know a lot of people have said my defense is below average. I go out there every day to kind of prove people wrong, honestly. And luckily it showed up tonight.”
In the eighth, Brett Callahan was thrown out trying to advance from first to third on an infield hit by Max Clark. Murakami made a strong throw to third, and Miguel Vargas made a tag on the run to get Callahan.
“I was seeing the play overall clearly,” Murakami said. “I saw Vargas calling out for me. Every single day, I play catch with him. I knew where to throw to him and he made the play and it was overall a great play.”
It was a strong day defensively and at the plate for Murakami.
“Obviously we’ve seen him be super successful in this league,” Fedde said. “There’s ups and downs. I’ve had plenty in my career. I think it’s how fast can you get out of them and mentally get through them. We believe in him, we believe in all these hitters to get out of that. He was our offense today.
“It’s a great step and we need him if we want to win this division.”
Winning is all that’s on Murakami’s mind.
“We only have nine games left in the season and it doesn’t really matter how I swing at the ball and what my mechanics are at the moment,” Murakami said. “It’s just about getting that win each and every day. Winning is all that matters at the moment right now.
“So, nothing else and giving 100% every single day is what I need to do.”