The Chicago White Sox players stood by their dugout, awaiting the result of a video review. Both the White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians watched to see if Tristan Peters reached home safely before the tag by catcher Patrick Bailey. Peters was confident about his timing, saying, “Obviously, it was a close play.” Would the Sox clinch a comeback win or face extra innings? Sam Antonacci stood idly as everyone awaited the final call.
The initial call on the field was safe, and after a prolonged review, the decision stood. Antonacci’s two-out, two-run single in the ninth inning provided the Sox with a 6-5 victory over the Guardians in front of 23,151 fans on Monday at Rate Field. The Sox, holding a 40-37 record, shifted from a potential second late-inning loss to tying for first in the American League Central with the Guardians, who are at 41-38.
“It was a crazy one there,” manager Will Venable remarked. He commended the team’s perseverance throughout the game. Antonacci had an impressive game with two hits, three RBIs, a walk, and a run. Venable praised his competitive nature and ability to deliver under pressure.
For much of the game, the Sox maintained control. Starting pitcher Anthony Kay delivered six scoreless innings with three hits and eight strikeouts. The Sox crafted a 3-0 lead through Braden Montgomery’s RBI double in the second, Andrew Benintendi’s RBI single in the third, and Randal Grichuk’s home run in the sixth. However, the Guardians leveled the score with three runs in the seventh against reliever Grant Taylor.
Venable acknowledged the bullpen’s strength early in the season, admitting that they can’t always be perfect. He emphasized that they would focus on improvement and seize future opportunities. Photos captured the tense moments as Chicago White Sox triumphed over the Cleveland Guardians 6-5.
In a critical moment, Antonacci secured a broken-bat RBI single in the seventh. His ground ball surprisingly eluded first baseman Rhys Hoskins. “It’s just part of the game,” Antonacci noted, explaining the unpredictable spin of the ball.
Heading into the ninth with a 4-3 lead, reliever Seranthony Domínguez faced challenges. He walked Travis Bazzana, who advanced to third on a wild pitch. Bailey then brought him home with a single. Domínguez acknowledged his mistake, saying, “I have to be better than that.” Catcher Patrick Bailey later snuck past White Sox catcher Kyle Teel to score on a sacrifice fly, giving the Guardians a 5-4 lead.
Peters expressed a desire to do better with his throw, but he was determined to make an impact in the bottom of the ninth. Following Montgomery’s walk, Peters hit a check-swing double. “It kind of threw me off, but my swing was in the right spot,” he said about the unusual pitch.
With two outs, Jacob Gonzalez struck out, bringing Antonacci back up to the plate. He seized the moment with a single up the middle. Montgomery scored comfortably, and Peters raced home just in time to secure the walk-off win. Antonacci reflected on the game, appreciating the intense competition and gearing up for future challenges, saying, “Just looking forward to keep putting good days ahead.”