Peters homers in 4th straight game, flirts with cycle in big night at plate

CHICAGO -- Let’s talk White Sox power hitters throughout history.

There’s Frank Thomas, Paul Konerko, Ron Kittle and Greg Luzinski from years gone by and Munetaka Murakami, Colson Montgomery and Miguel Vargas in the present.

But don’t forget Tristan Peters.

Yes, the 26-year-old rookie centerfielder who famously once played for the Savannah Bananas and met his wife line dancing in Arizona homered for a fourth straight game during an 11-7 victory over the Rangers on Tuesday night at Rate Field.

Peters’ four straight games with a home run leave him one behind equaling the franchise record of five, held by Murakami this season, Konerko (2017), Carlos Lee (’17), A.J. Pierzynski (’12), Thomas (twice in 1994), Kittle (’83) and Luzinski (’83). Murakami, Montgomery and Peters all have had home run streaks of at least four games this season, putting Peters in an elite home run-hitting category.

“Not like them, I guess you’d say,” Peters said. “But I know I have power in there and I pull the ball a lot in the air. So I know I can do it. That's really cool company.”

“He has been unbelievable,” Vargas said of Peters. “He’s an All-Star. Seeing him, the way he handles it, it’s amazing. We are very happy for him and he is helping this team since Day 1. It’s great to see him doing that stuff.”

Vargas and Peters spoke postgame Monday about the low energy in defeat from a 2026 White Sox squad known for its daily high intensity from first pitch to last pitch. But right-hander Sean Burke, who starts Wednesday as the White Sox attempt to win the series, noticed a decided difference and a return to normal almost four hours before Tuesday’s contest.

“The energy in here is much, much better today, coming in and understanding what we need to do,” Burke told MLB.com. “That’s the most impressive part of our team -- we don’t have a ton of experience, but we don’t let games build over. We don’t ride the highs and lows too much. Pretty even keel, to our benefit.”

How do the White Sox keep one rough night from turning into a week’s worth of low-energy games? Leadoff hitter Sam Antonacci, who doubled, tripled and scored three runs in his first career game at designated hitter, provided his unique conclusion.

“Just go to sleep. Just get to sleep and then it’s a new day,” Antonacci said. “It’s normal for stuff like that to happen, especially during this time, including myself. I’m guilty of it. Someone says they have the same energy for all 162, they are lying to you.

“So, don’t listen to them. It’s a grind, and to be able to come here and face a Hall of Famer and be able to put up those results, it’s rewarding for all the work we are putting in right now.”​

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom is that potential Hall of Famer, and the White Sox (69-63) immediately took control of this game by scoring six in the first inning. Peters doubled home two and Brenton Doyle added a two-run single, although none of Chicago’s connections in that inning went above an 80 mph exit velocity, according to Statcast.

Five White Sox players had at least two hits, and every starter reached base at least once. The game became a little tougher than expected, with Hagen Smith walking the bases loaded with two outs in the ninth, bringing on Grant Taylor for a two-pitch save.

For a team with only one four-game losing streak on its resume all season, the bounceback was expected.

“We brought the energy today,” Peters said. “Obviously that first inning, I think it was six runs. It just felt a lot different today. And that's what we do, we bounce back. So a lot more fun having a lot of energy.”

"Right from the get-go, really good energy from the guys,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “We've seen it every day this year, regardless of yesterday's results, these guys come with great energy. Thought there were some really good at-bats there in the first inning. Not a lot of hard contact, zero hard contact. But just some really good at-bats and strung some things together."

Peters was the only White Sox player to clear the fences. He entered the eighth inning against Tyler Alexander with a chance to become the sixth player in Major League Baseball history with two cycles in the same season.

Alexander walked Peters on four pitches, meaning the evening was great for the American League Central leaders but a bit short of perfect.

“I don't know if you can really try to hit a triple,” a smiling Peters said. “But, I was trying.”