White Sox Trio Homers in Game Against Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Chicago White Sox trio of Miguel Vargas, Munetaka Murakami, and Colson Montgomery achieved a rare milestone Friday. They homered in the same game for the fifth time this season. According to Elias, this ties both the major-league record (10th time) and the franchise record (second time).

“Having three guys who can hit the ball really well is always a threat to the opposing team,” Murakami said through an interpreter. “We want to continue that, contribute to the team win, and keep going.”

Andrew Benintendi also homered for the Sox in a 6-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, with attendance reaching 20,661. Vargas, Murakami, and Montgomery joined the 2004 grouping of Joe Crede, Paul Konerko, and José Valentín as Sox trios to accomplish this feat. The last major-league trio to do so was Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, and Joc Pederson of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019.

“To have those guys in the middle of your lineup do that five times is special,” Sox manager Will Venable said. “It was huge tonight. Being able to get a pitcher like that was key.”

Colson Montgomery capitalized after Nick Martinez, the Rays starter, gave him nothing to hit in early at-bats. “Finally, he got something to hit, and it’s nice to see him do that,” Venable noted.

The triple-homer display helped the first-place Sox extend their lead in the American League Central to three games over the Cleveland Guardians, who lost 4-1 to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Vargas initiated the scoring with his 23rd home run of the season in the first inning, sending the ball 433 feet with an exit velocity of 107.8 mph. “He takes good swings on good pitches and makes good swing decisions,” Venable said.

Benintendi’s second-inning homer, his 11th this season, traveled 405 feet. “He’s been consistent and hitting the ball hard,” Venable stated.

Murakami increased the lead to 4-0 with a two-run homer, his 24th, in the third inning. “He’s covering everything,” Venable commented.

The Rays scored their only run in the fourth with Junior Caminero’s solo home run, his 30th. Sox starter Erick Fedde allowed one run on four hits over five innings, striking out six without walking a batter. “One of my better outings,” Fedde said. “The game plan worked out well.”

Fedde appreciated the offensive backing. “They make my job easy when they give me big leads. The power on this team is unbelievable.”

Montgomery’s two-run homer in the sixth extended the lead to 6-1. He leads the team with 25 home runs. “When Vargas or Mune hits a homer, it eases pressure on you,” Montgomery said. “Our offense is starting to click.”