WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A seven-run outburst in the seventh inning, capped by Munetaka Murakami’s first career grand slam, propelled the Chicago White Sox to a 9-2 victory over the Athletics on Friday night.
Murakami finished 3-for-5 with singles in the third and fourth before launching a 431-foot blast in the seventh, his sixth homer of the season. The White Sox pounded out 15 hits, with Colson Montgomery delivering a run-scoring double in the first and an RBI single in the third. Edgar Quero added an RBI groundout in the third, and Luisangel Acuña and Andrew Benintendi each hit RBI doubles in the fifth.
A’s starter Aaron Civale (2-1) struggled, allowing a career-high 11 hits over 4 2/3 innings. He surrendered five earned runs, striking out four and walking one on 103 pitches.
Davis Martin (3-1) was sharp for Chicago, giving up three hits and two walks over seven innings while striking out four. He allowed only one earned run.
Nick Kurtz drove in Shea Langeliers with an RBI single in the fourth for the Athletics, and Andy Ibáñez plated Max Muncy in the eighth.
Up next
The series continues Saturday with Erick Fedde (0-3, 3.38 ERA) starting for the White Sox against Luis Severino (0-2, 5.59) for the Athletics.
