Murakami homers again as the White Sox top the Angels for a rain-delayed 8-7 win

CHICAGO (AP) — Munetaka Murakami hit a three-run homer in a big seventh-inning rally, and the Chicago White Sox held off the slumping Los Angeles Angels for an 8-7 win Monday night.

Andrew Benintendi had three RBIs as Chicago improved to 6-4 in its last 10 games. Miguel Vargas hit a solo drive, and Tristan Peters had two hits and scored two runs.

Jorge Soler hit a solo homer for Los Angeles in the rain-delayed opener of a three-game series. Mike Trout had two hits and scored twice.

The Angels blew a 5-1 lead in their fourth consecutive loss and eighth in nine games overall. They had a 6-0 lead Sunday at Kansas City and lost 11-9 when Lane Thomas hit a three-run homer for the Royals in the 10th inning.

The White Sox sent 10 batters to the plate while scoring seven times in the seventh. It was their biggest inning of the season.

Benintendi's two-run double off Nick Sandlin (0-1) trimmed the Angels' lead to one. Murakami then greeted Drew Pomeranz with a drive to right-center for his major league-best 12th homer. Vargas followed Murakami with another homer for an 8-5 lead.

The 26-year-old Murakami, a rookie slugger from Japan, is batting .349 (15 for 43) with seven homers and 14 RBIs in his last 10 games.

Osvaldo Bido (2-0) pitched three innings of one-run ball for the win.

Soler and Nolan Schanuel each drove in a run in the ninth against Grant Taylor before Bryan Hudson retired Adam Frazier on a bouncer to second, stranding runners at second and third. It was Hudson's first career save.

The start was delayed three hours as rain and thunderstorms rolled over Rate Field.

José Soriano (5-0, 0.24 ERA) starts for the Angels on Tuesday night, and fellow right-hander Davis Martin (3-1, 2.01 ERA) pitches for the White Sox.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

A tarp covers the infield as fans wait during a rain delay before a baseball game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Los Angeles Angels' Jorge Soler hits a sacrifice fly to Chicago White Sox right fielder Everson Pereira during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout celebrates with teammates after scoring on a sacrifice fly by Jorge Soler during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago White Sox's Andrew Benintendi (23) walks to the dugout after being called out on strikes during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Chicago, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago White Sox's Munetaka Murakami, of Japan, hits a single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Chicago, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox reinstated Austin Hays from the 10-day injured list on Monday after the veteran outfielder was sidelined by a right hamstring strain.

The 30-year-old Hays got hurt while pursuing a flyball against Baltimore on April 6. Hays, who signed a $6 million, one-year contract with Chicago in free agency, is batting .219 with a homer and six RBIs in nine games this season.

“He’s one of our experienced guys, our veteran guys, that has been through every situation out there,” White Sox manager Will Venable said before the team's 8-7 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. “Our guys lean on for advice and wisdom and brings a ton of positive energy to our group.”

Hays tested his hamstring with two games at Triple-A Charlotte. The White Sox decided to end his rehab stint after Tanner Murray dislocated his left shoulder while making a diving catch against Washington on Sunday.

Venable said he plans to ease Hays back into the lineup “to make sure he’s in a good spot.”

The 26-year-old Murray was placed on the 10-day IL, but he is expected to be sidelined for four to six months.

“It’s significant. There’s a fracture in there he’ll have to have surgery,” Venable said.

Murray, a fourth-round pick in the 2020 amateur draft, was acquired in a November trade with Tampa Bay. He is batting .214 (6 for 28) with a homer and three RBIs in 13 games after making his major league debut on April 5.

“The news was definitely a little surprising,” Murray said. “Like I knew I didn’t feel good in the moment, but, yeah it was a little bit of a frustrating kind of trip to the doctor, I’d say.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Chicago White Sox left fielder Tanner Murray, second from left, is checked by a team trainer, left, after being injured during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Chicago, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)