Sam Antonacci sparked the White Sox with a 4-for-4 day, reaching base in each of his six plate appearances in an 8-0 rout of the Twins. The win featured a strong start by Erick Fedde, who held Minnesota hitless until the fifth, and a shutout finished by Grant
MINNEAPOLIS — White Sox fans didn’t have to wait long for a reason to smile. Sam Antonacci came to the plate and, somehow, kept giving the offense exactly what it wanted: more bases, more momentum, and no outs wasted.
In Wednesday’s 8-0 victory against the Twins, Antonacci reached base all six times he came to the plate. He went 4-for-4 with a walk and his 12th hit-by-pitch of the season, tied for the most in baseball. Even the Sox’s own buzz didn’t sound complicated.
“He’s just crazy,” said White Sox first baseman Jacob Gonzalez, who played with Antonacci in the minors. “Not that he’s playing recklessly, but he plays crazy. Stretching [singles into] doubles, but everyone wants to do that. It’s just that he’s also fast enough to be able to be able to do crazy things. It’s a lot of fun.”.
Antonacci kept it simple. “Just got a lot of good pitches to hit today and got on base,” he said.
He hit two doubles, scored two runs, and drove in a run. The day continued a pattern: Antonacci has his fourth multihit game in his last eight, and his 13 multihit games are tied for second-most on the team. He insisted the hot streak isn’t tied to where he bats.
“It’s the same wherever you’re hitting,” Antonacci said. “Seeing the same ball, getting the same pitches. Doesn’t change my mindset. Just trying to get on base for the people behind me.”
That “people behind me” mattered early. Gonzalez delivered a standout debut in the moments that counted most, going 2-for-4 for his first career multihit game. He recorded his first two career RBI on a bases-loaded single in the first inning, when the Sox scored four runs.
The rout was already taking shape by the time the Twins ever looked like they might slow it down. Starter Erick Fedde didn’t allow a hit until there were two outs in the fifth. He finished five innings allowing two hits. and the bullpen closed things out for the shutout. with Grant Taylor and Chris Murphy completing it.
For a while, it looked like the Sox might leave the night entirely unscathed.
But there was a scare late. After entering the game in right field in the seventh. Derek Hill got hit by a pitch on his left hand in the ninth. He said he felt good enough to stay in the game—there were no other outfielders on the bench—but after the game. he went for imaging. His hand was heavily wrapped in ice.
The Sox also had news that carried outside the box score. Munetaka Murakami is not traveling with the team as he recovers from a strained right hamstring, but he still earned recognition: he was named the American League Rookie of the Month for May.
“Love that for him, and I love that for us,” Venable said. “So proud of him for the work he’s put in and the performance on the field. He’s very well deserving of that award. He’s contributed in every way possible at the highest level.”
In May, Murakami slashed .244/.382/.556 with eight home runs, 18 RBI, 21 runs, and 19 walks in 26 games. He led all rookies for the month in homers, runs, and walks, was tied for the lead in RBI, and ranked second in slugging percentage and OPS (.937).
Elsewhere in the lineup and training room, the Sox managed a few more moving pieces. Shortstop Colson Montgomery returned to the lineup after being given most of the game Tuesday off. He entered as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and got hit by a pitch. Venable said Montgomery was no worse for wear.
“It was really a bummer on a day where we’re trying to give him some rest that he comes in and takes one off the knee,” Venable said. “But he’s all right. He’s a young guy that has good, strong bones.”
Left-hander Noah Schultz is recovering from tendinitis in his right knee and isn’t scheduled to throw another bullpen session. Venable said there’s no decision yet.
“No decision on that,” Venable said. “There’s still some soreness in there, so they backed off to give him a little bit of a blow and then ramp back up.”
White Sox Twins Sam Antonacci Erick Fedde shutout Derek Hill Jacob Gonzalez Munetaka Murakami Rookie of the Month Colson Montgomery Noah Schultz