Sam Antonacci lined a game-ending, two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning to lift the host Chicago White Sox to a 6-5 victory against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday.
Chicago, which led 3-0 after six innings, rallied to win the opener of a three-game American League Central showdown series and tie Cleveland atop the division.
Antonacci went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two stolen bases, and Braden Montgomery had two hits, two runs and an RBI. The White Sox delivered against Guardians closer Cade Smith (2-1) after Seranthony Dominguez blew the lead in the top of the inning.
Cleveland challenged the call that Tristan Peters scored the winning run, but the play was upheld on replay review.
Brayan Rocchio went 3-for-5 for the Guardians and Kyle Manzardo capped a two-run ninth with a sacrifice fly on a play overturned by replay.
Antonacci grounded a go-ahead single in the seventh inning to put the White Sox ahead 4-3.
Montgomery opened the scoring with a two-out RBI double in the second. The White Sox added to the advantage on Andrew Benintendi’s run-scoring single one inning later.
Randal Grichuk greeted Guardians reliever Tim Herrin with a pinch-hit home run to lead off the sixth. It was his third pinch-hit blast of the season and his eighth overall.
Cleveland took little time to respond, rallying for three seventh-inning runs against Grant Taylor. After allowing a walk and a single to the first two batters he faced, Taylor got a strikeout, then issued another walk before pinch hitter Kahlil Watson grounded a two-run single to the right side for his first major league hit and RBIs.
Rhys Hoskins’ two-out RBI single to center tied the game at 3.
Guardians starter Gavin Williams took a no-decision after permitting two runs and five hits in five innings with one walk and eight strikeouts. Williams bookended his night effectively, retiring the first five and final eight batters he faced.
Chicago counterpart Anthony Kay fanned eight over six scoreless innings. Kay limited Cleveland to three hits while walking two.
Chris Murphy (2-0) notched the last two outs for Chicago.
White Sox catcher Kyle Teel, who had been on the injured list due to hamstring and knee injuries, went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his 2026 debut.
–Field Level Media
