Chicago White Sox designated hitter Munetaka Murakami hit a home run for the third consecutive game, powering his team to a 7-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics in the series rubber game at Sutter Health Park. The 26-year-old Japanese slugger's eight home runs lead all Japanese-born players through their first 22 MLB games this season. The win marked Chicago's first series victory since early April.
WEST SACRAMENTO -- Murakami launched a 425-foot home run with an exit velocity of 114.1 mph on Sunday, capping a strong series that included a 431-foot grand slam on Friday and a 415-foot shot on Saturday. His performance helped the White Sox swat eight home runs over the three games against the A's. Derek Hill, Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery also homered, with Vargas adding two hits and reaching base four times. Three of Chicago's first four batters reached in the opening inning, scoring on Edgar Quero's sacrifice fly, before Hill and Vargas went deep in the second to build a 4-0 lead. All runs came off Oakland starter Jeffrey Springs. “I’m in very good preparation all game, so having the results come out is a really exciting part for me,” Murakami said through an interpreter. “I just love having the points come from all the lineup. Everybody contributing to the team is wonderful. I hope we can keep contributing and keep continuing to have success.” Noah Schultz earned his first major league win, allowing one run over five innings with six strikeouts. The White Sox bullpen held firm after the A's scored three in the seventh. “The last five, six games, these guys have been the best version of themselves,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. A's manager Mark Kotsay acknowledged Murakami's power: “He’s off to a great start. We made some mistakes to him and we paid for them.”
