PHOENIX -- Munetaka Murakami homered on Tuesday for a fourth straight game, giving him nine for the season. But he was only part of the White Sox offensive highlights against the D-backs' Merrill Kelly in the first two innings.
Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery followed Murakami with long home runs, giving the White Sox three long balls in a row during a three-run second after a four-run first. Murakamiās nine home runs are the most of any Japanese-born player in his first 23 MLB games.
He has three more than any other Japanese-born player in his first 23 MLB games, ahead of Shohei Ohtani, who had six in his first 23 games as a hitter. If Murakami homers again on Wednesday, he will equal the White Sox individual mark of five straight games with a home run.
A.J. Pierzynski (2012), Paul Konerko (2011), Carlos Lee (2003), Frank Thomas (twice in 1994), Ron Kittle (1983) and Greg Luzinski (1983) also have homered in five straight games for the White Sox.