PHOENIX (AP) — Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami tied a Major League Baseball rookie record by homering in his fifth straight game, crushing a 451-foot shot to right-center field against the Arizona Diamondbacks for his 10th homer of the season.
“I've run out of things to say,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “Obviously, he continues to put himself in a really good spot to take good swings on good pitches. He's making great swing decisions, making a ton of contact and when he hits it, he hits it really hard.”
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Chicago White Sox's Munetaka Murakami (5), of Japan, celebrates his two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Chicago White Sox's Munetaka Murakami (5), of Japan, celebrates his two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with White Sox third base coach Jose Leger (73) during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Chicago White Sox's Munetaka Murakami, of Japan, warms up during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Chicago White Sox's Munetaka Murakami (5) starts his swing on a single as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher James McCann reaches for the ball during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
He added: “Even the singles he's hitting are hard. The damage is incredible and it's impressive to watch.”
He is the 13th rookie in big-league history to go deep in five straight, according to MLB.com. The Japanese first baseman also tied the team's franchise record, a mark shared by A.J. Pierzynski (2012), Paul Konerko (2011), Carlos Lee (2003), Frank Thomas (twice in 1994), Ron Kittle (1983) and Greg Luzinski (1983).
Murakami's two-run homer came off Diamondbacks reliever Ryan Thompson in the seventh, cutting Arizona's lead to 10-7. His 10 homers are second in the big leagues behind Houston's Yordan Alvarez, who has 11.
Murakami’s 10 homers, eight coming on the road, are the most in MLB history by a Japanese-born player in his first 24 career games.
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Chicago White Sox's Munetaka Murakami (5), of Japan, celebrates his two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Chicago White Sox's Munetaka Murakami (5), of Japan, celebrates his two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with White Sox third base coach Jose Leger (73) during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Chicago White Sox's Munetaka Murakami, of Japan, warms up during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Chicago White Sox's Munetaka Murakami (5) starts his swing on a single as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher James McCann reaches for the ball during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A televised debate among six leading candidates for California governor Wednesday underscored sharp partisan divides on issues from homelessness to taxes, while the Democrats sought to distinguish themselves from each other in a chaotic race with no clear leader.
It's the first time in a generation that California has a wide-open contest for the heavily Democratic state's highest office, with more than 50 names on the ballot. Mail ballots are scheduled to go to voters early next month in advance of the June 2 primary election.
It was mostly a mannerly exchange. There were few instances of candidates talking over or interrupting each other, indicating they were eager to make a positive impression with voters who might be seeing them for the first time.
The debate brought together the two leading Republicans, conservative commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, and four Democrats including former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter,billionaire Tom Steyer, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and former Biden administration Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
Over 90 minutes, candidates fielded questions on housing and wildfire insurance, social media and gas taxes, while bickering over professional experience, individual wealth and the direction of the nation's most populous state. Democrats made clear they would fight President Donald Trump in a state known as the home of the so-called Trump resistance, while Republicans said ruling Democrats are to blame for the state's woes.
“Donald Trump is trying to punish California every way he can,” Steyer said.
California has more people living on the street than any other state and Democrats generally credited outgoing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom for his efforts to deal with the long-running crisis. But Republicans said the state has spent billions of taxpayer dollars with little evidence of progress.
“Everything has taken us in the wrong direction,” Hilton said.
Bianco called the state's record on homelessness a “dismal failure.”
Candidates were asked if the state should ban social media use for children under 16 years old and their answers didn't fall neatly on party lines.
Steyer and Becerra said they support such a ban. Hilton said there should be a social norm to keep smartphones away from children under 16. Porter said she doesn't support a ban at that age but may support a different age ban, noting two of her teenage children use social media in different ways. Bianco and Mahan said it should be left to parents, with Mahan saying he supports parental consent for kids under 16 and cellphones should be banned in schools.
There also were some sharp exchanges and candidates sought to distinguish themselves from rivals.
References to Steyer's wealth and previous business dealings came up repeatedly.
“The only housing Tom Steyer’s built has been private prisons and ICE detention centers,” Mahan said, echoing criticism that Steyer, a hedge fund founder turned liberal activist, invested in private prisons that today house people picked up in federal immigration raids.
Steyer responded that he and his wife have financed thousands of low-income housing units.
Steyer has been vastly outspending his rivals in advertising and was asked about being the only billionaire in the race. He noted major corporations including utility companies are spending millions against him.
“I’m the billionaire who wants to tax other billionaires,” Steyer added. “I’m the billionaire who's taking on the electric monopoly and trying to break up their power. I’m the billionaire who wants to tax the oil companies and make polluters pay.”
The candidates were all on stage together because California puts all candidates on the same ballot regardless of party, and the two with the most votes go to the November general election. Democrats have been fretting their crowded field could result in two Republicans advancing, a result that would be a historic calamity for Democrats.
The campaign has just come through an unstable period, with U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell — one of the leading Democrats — leaving the race and Congress following sexual assault allegations that he denies.
Becerra and Mahan were late additions to the debate lineup after Swalwell exited the race. Both candidates in the reordered contest have been getting fresh attention, and endorsements. Becerra was the only candidate who declined to speak to reporters after the debate.
Porter, who became a social media celebrity by brandishing a whiteboard at congressional hearings while grilling CEOs, could become the state's first woman governor. Steyer, who in 2020 ran an unsuccessful presidential campaign, is known for his involvement in climate issues. Becerra served in the Biden administration and as a state attorney general, a congressman and a state legislator, and would be the state's first Hispanic governor in modern history. Mahan says he has made gains against homelessness and crime while leading Northern California's largest city.
Democrats have dominated government in the nation's most populous state for years. Republicans haven't won a statewide election in two decades, and Hilton and Bianco faulted Sacramento's one-sided politics for the state's troubles.
Bianco said Democratic policies were driving up the cost of living.
Hilton, while discussing the state's notoriously high tax rates, said, “All the Democrats here are part of this system that obviously isn’t working.”
Sophie Austin and Trân Nguyễn contributed from Sacramento, California.
California's gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton speaks after a debate, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Xavier Becerra, a candidate in California's gubernatorial race, speaks during a debate Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in San Francisco. (Jason Henry/Pool Photo via AP)
Tom Steyer, center left, and Katie Porter, candidates in California's gubernatorial race, shake hands during a debate Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in San Francisco. (Jason Henry/Pool Photo via AP)
California's gubernatorial candidate Matt Mahan speaks after a debate, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
California's gubernatorial candidate Chad Bianco speaks after a debate, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
California's gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer speaks after a debate, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Candidates in California's gubernatorial race look on during a debate Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in San Francisco. (Jason Henry/Pool Photo via AP)
California gubernatorial candidate Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco walks toward the podium to speak at the California Republican Party Convention in San Diego, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Steve Hilton speaks during a gubernatorial candidate forum in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Matt Mahan speaks during a gubernatorial candidate forum on Latino and immigrant communities in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra walks down the steps after speaking at a campaign event in Los Angeles, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra speaks during a campaign event in Los Angeles, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Tom Steyer speaks during a gubernatorial candidate forum on Latino and immigrant communities in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Katie Porter speaks during a gubernatorial candidate forum on Latino and immigrant communities in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
