Forget the talk about rebuilding. The Chicago White Sox just took a massive step forward with a 7-4 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night. Colson Montgomery didn’t just hit a ball; he hit his 28th home run to lead the AL Central-leading team to victory, according to Yahoo Sports. This wasn’t a lucky bounce or a defensive error. It was a three-run shot off starter Dean Kremer in the first inning that put the White Sox up 4-0 before the Twins even had a chance to breathe. The numbers don’t lie. Montgomery is hitting with authority, and the team is winning games that matter right now.
The Pitching Was Wild, But The Hitting Was Real
Baseball is often a game of mistakes, and Friday night was full of them. Both starting pitchers only lasted four innings. Chicago right-hander Luis Castillo gave up four runs on eight hits, while Kremer surrendered six runs in his outing. Yet, the White Sox offense kept grinding.
To help lock up the lead, Andrew Benintendi drove in two runs. He doubled in the third inning to give Chicago the edge after the Twins had tied the game at four. The Twins tried to climb back with homers from Brooks Lee and Kody Clemens, but they couldn’t stop the momentum. Relief pitcher Grant Taylor pitched 2 2/3 shutout innings to earn the win. Bryan Hudson closed it out for his sixth save. The team won despite shaky pitching because they could hit the ball hard.
Twins Hopes Fade While Sox Rise
While Chicago is climbing, Minnesota is slipping. The Twins are now 8-14 since the trade deadline, and their wild-card hopes continue to fade. Occupying the fourth position behind four teams, they trail the final American League wild-card berth by four games. The pressure is mounting.
Even their top prospect, Walker Jenkins, made his major league debut in this game. After hitting a deep flyout, the home crowd gave a warm ovation to him as he batted ninth and played center field. Jenkins got his first hit the next time up with a single to right in the fourth inning. It was a bright spot for a team that is struggling to find its footing. Tristan Peters, who plays center field for the White Sox, stopped a home run streak of five games, a number equaling a franchise record. He went 1 for 4 with a single. These small details show a team that is finding its identity.
Look at the schedule. Minnesota RHP Bailey Ober was scheduled to face Chicago RHP Erick Fedde in the Saturday starting lineup. Fedde has a 6-8 record with a 4.18 ERA, while Ober sits at 7-4 with a 4.49 ERA. The White Sox are leading the division for a reason. They have power, they have depth, and they know how to win when the game gets messy. Montgomery’s 28th homer was the spark, but the whole team lit the fire.
