First-place White Sox keep the line moving in second half — and Munetaka Murakami’s just getting warmed up
<p>ARLINGTON, Texas — The <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox" target="_blank" ><u>White Sox</u></a> passed a major test out of the All-Star break with two straight road series wins, no small feat for a team that went 19-28 while traveling during the first half of the season.</p><p>They did it with some <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/07/17/white-sox-toronto-braden-montgomery-murakami-derby" target="_blank" ><u>long ball</u></a> courtesy of Sam Antonacci and Colson Montgomery while taking two out of three in Toronto.</p><p>They did it with <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/07/22/andrew-benintendi-white-sox" target="_blank" ><u>some small ball</u></a> in Texas, with Chase Meidroth and Andrew Benintendi combining for six singles driving in all their runs in a 4-2 rubber-match win at Texas.</p><p>They got big-time pitching performances from Davis Martin and <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/07/19/sean-burke-white-sox-toronto-davis-martin-starting-pitchers" target="_blank" ><u>rising ace Sean Burke</u></a>, plus a bullpen that’s suddenly dealing shutdown stuff behind Grant Taylor, Bryan Hudson and a revitalized <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/07/21/jordan-hicks-white-sox-arm-slot" target="_blank" ><u>Jordan Hicks</u></a>.</p><p>And it’s hard not to wonder how it all could look for the stunning first-place Sox if Munetaka Murakami can regain his epically powerful first-half form.</p><p>The rookie sensation went 4-for-19 with two doubles, seven walks and eight strikeouts during his first road trip <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/07/10/white-sox-activate-munetaka-murakami-from-injured-list-option-jacob-gonzalez-to-charlotte" target="_blank" ><u>since returning</u></a> from the hamstring injury that derailed the spring dinger show that still landed him spots in the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game.</p><p>Murakami gave one a ride Wednesday night on a deep flyout at Globe Life Field, but he returned to Chicago still in search of his 21st home run, which would be his first since May 27. He’s confident it’s coming, even as the league looks for new ways to attack his prodigious swing.</p><p>“I think overall it’s getting better,” Murakami said via interpreter Kenzo Yagi.
Reported by 1 outlet — Chicago Sun-Times. See all sources ↓
<p>ARLINGTON, Texas — The <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox" target="_blank" ><u>White Sox</u></a> passed a major test out of the All-Star break with two straight road series wins, no small feat for a team that went 19-28 while traveling during the first half of the season.</p><p>They did it with some <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/07/17/white-sox-toronto-braden-montgomery-murakami-derby" target="_blank" ><u>long ball</u></a> courtesy of Sam Antonacci and Colson Montgomery while taking two out of three in Toronto.</p><p>They did it with <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/07/22/andrew-benintendi-white-sox" target="_blank" ><u>some small ball</u></a> in Texas, with Chase Meidroth and Andrew Benintendi combining for six singles driving in all their runs in a 4-2 rubber-match win at Texas.</p><p>They got big-time pitching performances from Davis Martin and <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/07/19/sean-burke-white-sox-toronto-davis-martin-starting-pitchers" target="_blank" ><u>rising ace Sean Burke</u></a>, plus a bullpen that’s suddenly dealing shutdown stuff behind Grant Taylor, Bryan Hudson and a revitalized <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/07/21/jordan-hicks-white-sox-arm-slot" target="_blank" ><u>Jordan Hicks</u></a>.</p><p>And it’s hard not to wonder how it all could look for the stunning first-place Sox if Munetaka Murakami can regain his epically powerful first-half form.</p><p>The rookie sensation went 4-for-19 with two doubles, seven walks and eight strikeouts during his first road trip <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/07/10/white-sox-activate-munetaka-murakami-from-injured-list-option-jacob-gonzalez-to-charlotte" target="_blank" ><u>since returning</u></a> from the hamstring injury that derailed the spring dinger show that still landed him spots in the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game.</p><p>Murakami gave one a ride Wednesday night on a deep flyout at Globe Life Field, but he returned to Chicago still in search of his 21st home run, which would be his first since May 27. He’s confident it’s coming, even as the league looks for new ways to attack his prodigious swing.</p><p>“I think overall it’s getting better,” Murakami said via interpreter Kenzo Yagi. “I’ve been seeing the ball very clearly and I’m getting good at-bats. There are different pitchers coming in each and every day with different varieties of pitches.
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- <p>ARLINGTON, Texas — The <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox" target="_blank" ><u>White Sox</u></a> passed a major test out of the All-Star break with two straight road series wins, no small feat for a team that went 19-28 while traveling during the first half of the season.</p><p>They did it with some <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/07/17/white-sox-toronto-braden-montgomery-murakami-derby" target="_blank" ><u>long ball</u></a> courtesy of Sam Antonacci and Colson Montgomery while taking two out of three in Toronto.</p><p>They did it with <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/07/22/andrew-benintendi-white-sox" target="_blank" ><u>some small ball</u></a> in Texas, with Chase Meidroth and Andrew Benintendi combining for six singles driving in all their runs in a 4-2 rubber-match win at Texas.</p><p>They got big-time pitching performances from Davis Martin and <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/07/19/sean-burke-white-sox-toronto-davis-martin-starting-pitchers" target="_blank" ><u>rising ace Sean Burke</u></a>, plus a bullpen that’s suddenly dealing shutdown stuff behind Grant Taylor, Bryan Hudson and a revitalized <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/07/21/jordan-hicks-white-sox-arm-slot" target="_blank" ><u>Jordan Hicks</u></a>.</p><p>And it’s hard not to wonder how it all could look for the stunning first-place Sox if Munetaka Murakami can regain his epically powerful first-half form.</p><p>The rookie sensation went 4-for-19 with two doubles, seven walks and eight strikeouts during his first road trip <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/07/10/white-sox-activate-munetaka-murakami-from-injured-list-option-jacob-gonzalez-to-charlotte" target="_blank" ><u>since returning</u></a> from the hamstring injury that derailed the spring dinger show that still landed him spots in the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game.</p><p>Murakami gave one a ride Wednesday night on a deep flyout at Globe Life Field, but he returned to Chicago still in search of his 21st home run, which would be his first since May 27. He’s confident it’s coming, even as the league looks for new ways to attack his prodigious swing.</p><p>“I think overall it’s getting better,” Murakami said via interpreter Kenzo Yagi.
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First-place White Sox keep the line moving in second half — and Munetaka Murakami’s just getting warmed up
Sources1TypeCoverageChicago Sun-Times