CHICAGO -- Munetaka Murakami officially put himself into Crosstown Classic lore.
The slugging White Sox first baseman accomplished such a feat through the first multihomer game of his MLB career during an 8-3 win over the Cubs before 38,795 Saturday night at the party-like atmosphere of Rate Field. Murakami broke a homerless drought lasting 30 plate appearances since last clearing the fences on May 8, launching a solo shot in the third inning off Jameson Taillon and a two-run shot off him in the fifth.
That long-ball production is child’s play for Murakami, who once homered in five straight at-bats during his career in Japan.
“I told you guys he’s just fine,” White Sox manager Will Venable said of Murakami with a grin. “Obviously he sets a high expectation, continues to have good at-bats, make good swing decisions and gets really good swings off. When he does, they usually go over the fence.”
“We lost yesterday, so I’m glad for a win today,” said Murakami through interpreter Kenzo Yagi. “I’m really glad I was able to contribute.”
Contribute would be the right word, in this instance, as the White Sox launched five home runs off Taillon. Miguel Vargas went deep in the first via a three-run blast and Colson Montgomery crushed one just two hitters after Murakami in the third. Andrew Benintendi then homered in the sixth to chase Taillon (2-3) from the game.
Murakami has 17 homers in his rookie season, while Montgomery has 13 and Vargas has 11. Saturday’s prodigious clouts off Taillon marked the eighth time this season Murakami and Montgomery homered in the same game. It’s the most by any teammate duo in their team’s first 45 games of a season in MLB history, per Elias Sports. Murakami, Vargas and Montgomery have homered four times in the same game, the most by any teammate trio in their team’s first 45 games of a season since at least 1900 and only one off the season record of five (done nine times).
This Mune, Miguel and Montgomery show is leading the way for White Sox success.
“We prepared for this type of moment, and I think we're doing a really good job,” Vargas said. “I feel it's not just us three. It's the whole team doing a really good job in every at-bat, and I think they put us in a really good spot to drive in runs and score."
Those 17 homers for Murakami are tied with Yordan Alvarez (2019), Cody Bellinger (2017) and Wally Berger (1930) for third all-time in a player’s first 45 career Major League Baseball games. Gary Sánchez (19; 2015-16) and Rhys Hoskins (18; 2017) are the only players above Murakami on that list.
His two on Saturday -- covering a Statcast-projected 391 feet and 428 feet, respectively -- left Taillon wondering how so many teams could miss on such a dynamic talent.
“Yeah, I can’t really understand why 29 other teams weren’t interested, to be completely honest,” Taillon said. “Some groupthink where people just decided they were out on him. The whole league decided they were out. That’s crazy to me. He can hit. He can put the ball in the seats. He’s young. He’s got a ton of juice. He’s got a presence up there, for sure.
“He controls the strike zone. He does a lot of things really well. Yeah, it’s crazy to me that more teams weren’t interested. I don’t know what the situation was, but it seems like he’s got a great fit here and he’s comfortable here, and they’ve made him feel welcome. And it’s clearly showing with how he’s playing."
Maybe Mike Vasil, the steady relief pitcher turned broadcaster turned sorcerer, helped the cause. He tapped Murakami on the helmet with his wand, purchased by Jordan Leasure for $20 off Amazon, before the game. That wand has been a dugout fixture since a home sweep of the Angels starting on April 27.
All this offense made a winner of Davis Martin (6-1), who struck out seven and allowed one run over six innings, dropping his ERA to a microscopic 1.61, which ranks third in the Majors behind Cam Schlittler (1.35) and Nick Martinez (1.51). Martin also spoke of the perfect fit Murakami has been from the get-go on his two-year, $34 million deal with the White Sox.
“Everybody surrounded him and wanted to let him know he’s a part of this team,” Martin said. “We were excited to have him, because he is a superstar. There’s no other way to put it.”
The White Sox have a number of developing star-like players who have pushed them to 23-22 overall and into a chance for a series win Sunday against the Cubs (29-17).
“It's great when you see so many people from Chicago coming in and showing up to the field,” Vargas said. “It's a great atmosphere out there, and I just want to help a lot for us and win the game."