SAN FRANCISCO — The Chicago White Sox didn’t have a base runner through three innings Friday night against the San Francisco Giants.
They more than made up for it in the fourth, scoring nine runs in the inning during a 9-4 victory in front of 37,524 at Oracle Park for their ninth win in 12 games.
The Sox sent 13 batters to the plate while producing their most runs in an inning since scoring 11 in the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds on May 7, 2023, at Great American Ball Park.
Sam Antonacci led off Friday’s fourth inning by getting hit by a pitch. Giants starter Trevor McDonald also hit the next batter, Munetaka Murakami. With one out, Colson Montgomery reached on an infield single — snapping an 0-for-15 skid.
Chase Meidroth drew a bases-loaded walk, bringing in Antonacci with the game’s first run. Andrew Benintendi followed with a two-run double, stretching the lead to 3-0.
The Giants brought the infield in, but the Sox pushed across the fourth run of the inning on a fielder’s choice. Edgar Quero hit a grounder that second baseman Luis Arraez had to dive after. Arraez fielded the ball, but his throw to the plate was off target as Meidroth scored to make it 4-0.
With two outs, Derek Hill knocked in Benintendi with a single to right field, giving the Sox a 5-0 lead.
Antonacci, the 10th batter of the inning, was hit by another pitch after reliever Ryan Borucki entered. It’s the 10th time Antonacci was hit by a pitch. And it was the first time since July 25, 2017, against the Cubs that the Sox had three team hit-by-pitches in one inning.
That loaded the bases for Murakami, who drove in three with a double to left field to make it 8-0. Miguel Vargas then reached with an infield hit. There was a throwing error by shortstop Willy Adames on the play, allowing Murakami to score the ninth run. All five of the team’s hits in the game came during the inning.
That was plenty of support for Sox starter Davis Martin, who allowed four runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in 5 2/3 innings.
Injury note
The Sox were without outfielder Jarred Kelenic, who was scratched from the starting lineup because of a lower back bruise.