CHICAGO – Tristan Peters did it again.
And in this unbelievable home run scenario for the All-Star White Sox outfielder, he had already done it again, again, again, and again.
With his sixth-inning two-run blast off Texas reliever Robby Ahlstrom on Wednesday, the White Sox left-handed-hitting left fielder not only launched his first career home run off a southpaw but homered for a fifth straight game in Chicago's 10-4 win over the Rangers at Rate Field.
Peters matched the franchise record set by seven players on eight previous occasions for most consecutive games with a homer. That list includes Munetaka Murakami this season, Paul Konerko (2017), Carlos Lee (’17), A.J. Pierzynski (’12), Frank Thomas (twice in 1994), Ron Kittle (’83) and Greg Luzinski (’83).
The MLB record for consecutive games with a homer is eight, shared by Ken Griffey Jr. (July 20-28, 1993), Don Mattingly (July 8-18, 1987) and Dale Long (May 19-28, 1956). They probably aren’t the exact names that Peters expected to share the stage with when he was fighting for one of the final roster spots back in Glendale, Arizona, this Spring Training.
“That’s crazy,” Peters said of the record. “I try not to get caught up too much in that, but obviously it’s out there, and I’ve seen it and thought about it a little bit.”
“It's amazing. I don't know what words there are for what he's doing,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “Really, really special. Really cool to watch. And obviously big for us today, what he did and the rest of the offense.”
With both Peters and Murakami achieving the feat this year, the White Sox are the first team since at least 1900 to have two rookies with a home run streak of five or more games in a single season. The five-game streak ties the longest by an MLB rookie, which has been done 13 times previously, including twice by other White Sox rookies: Murakami this season and Kittle in 1983, according to Elias Sports.
For the second straight White Sox victory, Peters finished a triple short of his second cycle this season. Peters’ first cycle, during a 14-1 victory over the A’s on July 10, cemented his place on the American League All-Star squad.
There were quite a few struggles following that career-changing moment, but Peters has adjusted to the league adjusting to him. Over his last 18 games, since Aug. 8, Peters is slashing .400/.483/.880 with six homers, six doubles and 14 RBIs.
If it’s possible, Peters feels better than he did before the All-Star break.
“I’m lifting the ball a little better now,” Peters said. “I’m just seeing the ball even better.”
“He’s just going on a historic run right now. Super fun to watch,” said center fielder Brenton Doyle, who homered and drove in four runs on Wednesday. “Thankful to be able to share the field with him.”
A point of clarification is needed concerning Peters’ run of great success. Since he once played for the Savannah Bananas, he has been given the moniker of “Bananas Bonds” during his recent power surge.
Or should it be “Banana Bonds?”
Either way works for Peters.
“Obviously, I swung a banana bat the other day,” said a smiling Peters, who donned a banana-inspired bat for Players’ Weekend. “I'm proud of that, and so yeah, I'm going to embrace it.”
Wednesday’s comfortable win maintained Chicago’s 2 1/2-game lead over the Guardians in the American League Central, and it came behind three scoreless innings of relief from Sean Newcomb (2-3), who has not allowed a run over his last 17 1/3 innings. Newcomb replaced Sean Burke, the most dominant starter for the White Sox of late, who walked a career-high eight in three-plus innings.
“It was pretty terrible,” Burke said of his start. “I said to [Anthony] Kay when I walked in that that was probably one of the worst games I've had in any sport at any level my entire life. But it is what it is. Kind of just take it, flush it in the next 24 hours.”
“There are going to be days where we've got to pick the offense up,” said White Sox reliever Jonathan Cannon, who fanned four in a three-inning save. “There are days like today where they picked us up."
At 70-63, the White Sox tied the mark for the most wins by a team following at least three consecutive 100+ loss seasons, done previously by the 2014 Astros, 1965 Senators and the 1925 Boston Braves. There are still 29 games remaining for the White Sox.
No team has made the playoffs following even two straight 100-loss seasons.
At least, no team as of yet.