CHICAGO – Sam Antonacci’s two-run, two-out walk-off single off Cleveland closer Cade Smith gave the White Sox an improbable 6-5 victory over the Guardians on Monday night at Rate Field. The game-winning rally was set up by a one-out walk to Braden Montgomery and Tristan Peters' check-swing double.
The victory moved the White Sox (40-37, .519) percentage points ahead of the Guardians (41-38, .518) in a virtual tie for the American League Central top spot. After being swept at Detroit this past weekend, the White Sox still have yet to lose more than three straight and improved to 21-4 at home over their last 25.
Anthony Kay threw six scoreless innings for the White Sox, striking out eight over a career-high 101 pitches. But he received a no-decision when Grant Taylor allowed three runs in the top of the seventh. Taylor went a week without pitching but has given up runs in each of his last two outings, Sunday in Detroit and on Monday.
Guardians rookie Kahlil Watson picked up his first career hit with a two-run single in the seventh, but he was held at third with two outs on Rhys Hoskins’ game-tying single to center. Watson was stranded there as Bryan Hudson struck out Kyle Manzardo, who struck out three times, all three with runners on base.
Randal Grichuk delivered his third pinch-hit homer of the season to raise the White Sox lead to 3-0 in the sixth. It was the sixth pinch-hit homer for the White Sox this season.
Antonacci’s two-out single, which cut to the right past Hoskins at first base, brought home Montgomery with the go-ahead run in the seventh. Antonacci’s first go-ahead hit was set up by Montgomery’s double off Shawn Armstrong.