Antonacci’s walk-off – Sam Antonacci’s two-run, two-out walk-off single turned a fragile late lead into a 6-5 White Sox victory over the Guardians at Rate Field, moving Chicago atop the AL Central in a virtual tie.
CHICAGO – The White Sox didn’t just win Monday night at Rate Field. They clawed it out after the game had started slipping into familiar danger—until Sam Antonacci’s bat finally snapped it back.
With two outs, Antonacci ripped a walk-off single off Cleveland closer Cade Smith to cap an improbable 6-5 victory over the Guardians. The rally began earlier, too: a one-out walk to Braden Montgomery and Tristan Peters’ check-swing double set the stage before the winning swing arrived.
That finish mattered because it shifted the standings in real time. The victory moved the White Sox to 40-37 (.519), putting them percentage points ahead of the Guardians, who are 41-38 (.518) in a virtual tie for the American League Central top spot.
Chicago comes into the homestretch bruised but not broken. After being swept at Detroit this past weekend, the White Sox still have yet to lose more than three straight. They’ve improved to 21-4 at home over their last 25.
Anthony Kay kept the Guardians quiet through his start. throwing six scoreless innings and striking out eight while hitting a career-high 101 pitches. The swing later came from the bullpen, though. Kay received a no-decision when Grant Taylor allowed three runs in the top of the seventh. Taylor had gone a week without pitching. but he has now given up runs in each of his last two outings—Sunday in Detroit and on Monday.
Cleveland’s offense pressed in the middle innings. Guardians rookie Kahlil Watson picked up his first career hit with a two-run single in the seventh. He was held at third with two outs on Rhys Hoskins’ game-tying single to center. Watson stayed there as Bryan Hudson struck out Kyle Manzardo, who struck out three times—each with runners on base.
The late drama made sense of the game’s earlier momentum. Randal Grichuk delivered his third pinch-hit homer of the season to raise the White Sox lead to 3-0 in the sixth. It was also the sixth pinch-hit homer Chicago has hit this season.
From there, everything tightened. Antonacci’s two-out single in the seventh cut to the right past Hoskins at first base and brought home Montgomery with the go-ahead run. Antonacci’s first go-ahead hit wasn’t a solo moment—it came after Montgomery’s double off Shawn Armstrong.
The result leaves the AL Central stacked in tight numbers, but the way it ended is what will stick: a walk-off, two outs, and a lead that looked far from secure until it wasn’t.
White Sox Guardians Sam Antonacci Cade Smith AL Central Rate Field Anthony Kay Grant Taylor Kahlil Watson Rhys Hoskins
Walk-off at 2 outs is crazy. Sox really just needed one swing lol.
I swear every game this season comes down to the bullpen blowing it for a sec then saving it. Also Rate Field always sounds tiny on TV.
Wait so Antonacci beat the Guardians but also Grant Taylor gave up the runs? Sounds like the White Sox pitching is good until it isnt… then it is again? lol I’m confused.
Those odds at home 21-4 is wild, but I don’t get how they’re tied percentage-wise if they “moved atop” the division. Like .519 vs .518 doesn’t feel like real math to me. Either way Cade Smith got walked off like that? Brutal. Pinch hit homers too, Guardians can’t catch a break.