CHICAGO – The crowd of 27,721 at Rate Field on Sunday afternoon seemed to know Tristan Peters’ one-out home run to center off Kodai Senga was gone immediately upon contact during the ninth inning of a 2-1 victory for the White Sox over the Mets.
Peters -- who used a Savannah Bananas bat for Players’ Weekend, representing his one-time team -- and White Sox manager Will Venable weren’t quite as certain.
“It got in a little on me, and I know to center it's been tough in this ballpark,” Peters said. “But I also knew the ball was flying today, so I was just telling the ball, ‘Keep going.’”
“I was hoping,” a smiling Venable said. “We don't see a lot go out there, so I thought the ball was carrying OK today, and obviously he got just enough and it was a great swing by Tristan."
Great swing by Peters. Another euphoric moment for the American League Central-leading White Sox (68-62).
Peters’ ninth home run also stood as the White Sox 11th walk-off win this season by eight different players, with five of them being of the long ball variety and three moments coming from Peters.
In fact, Jake Rogers walked off the Mets on Friday with his first White Sox home run and his second White Sox hit, getting the ball back from Emma Rodriguez on Sunday morning in exchange for a signed bat, ball and jersey for the die-hard fan. The White Sox have been walked off seven times, including twice earlier this week at Wrigley Field, but the net positive of four seems double or triple the value with the excitement they have produced.
“Walk-offs mean good things happen, obviously,” Venable said. “And yet another example of these guys just continuing to battle. The fans and the support from the city and the environment that's been created makes these walk-off moments a little more special."
“We played our butts off today,” rookie reliever Hagen Smith said. “Credit to everybody in here. We fought and it was awesome to get that win.”
Smith played a major role in Sunday’s victory, entering a scoreless game in the seventh with runners on first and second and nobody out. He fell behind at 3-0 on Jared Young but came back to strike him out. He then aced pinch-hitter Francisco Alvarez on four pitches and got Marcus Semien to chase a pitch well out of the zone for his third strikeout of the frame, stranding the two runners.
In six games covering his Major League career, opposing hitters are 1-for-25 against the rookie southpaw.
“This group has been awesome,” said Smith, focusing on the team as opposed to his individual prowess. “Just being able to be around them and learn from them, such a competitive group, and I feel like we are never out of a game.”
Sam Antonacci joined Smith in the thriving White Sox rookie club by making history. He was hit by a Nolan McLean pitch with two outs in the fifth, a borderline connection, marking Antonacci’s 24th hit-by-pitch during the 2026 campaign, setting a single-season franchise record.
Getting hit by a pitch is one of the ways Antonacci gets on base, an art form to the young left-handed hitter, despite past objections from his mother, Nicki. But Antonacci’s mom understands his situation at the Major League level, while Antonacci seems accepting but certainly not doing any sort of celebration with this accomplishment.
“Cool,” said Antonacci in describing the new White Sox record. “Barely hit me but glad the home-plate umpire called it.”
“I’m glad he's all right,” Venable said. “But that's obviously part of his game."
Andrew Benintendi’s eighth-inning double scored Miguel Vargas for a 1-0 White Sox lead, only to have a rare rough outing from Grant Taylor lead to the Mets tying the game in the ninth. Despite walking two and throwing just 12 of his 29 pitches for strikes, Taylor escaped in a 1-1 deadlock and actually earned the victory thanks to Peters.
Sunday’s walk-off had a playoff feel to it, as have so many games before them for the South Siders. And while they stick to their “one day at a time” approach, espoused so frequently by Venable, they actually discussed being a playoff team following this thrilling decision.
“Oh absolutely. We're really a good team,” Peters said. “It's just such an impressive young team. I think no doubt we can be in the playoffs.”
“Obviously, it’s up to us,” Antonacci said. “We know what we need to do to make that happen and it’s in our sights … just have to keep being professional and do what we are doing on a consistent basis. Just be there for each other -- it’s the most important part.”