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)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Baker Mayfield lost a season opener for the first time in his four seasons with Tampa Bay.

His three lost fumbles were a key reason why the Buccaneers fell 33-27 to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Mayfield, who agreed to a three-year, $165 million contract extension on Tuesday, nearly rallied the Bucs from a 14-point halftime deficit, but his three lost fumbles and another by running back Bucky Irving proved too costly.

“This one falls on me,” Mayfield said. “They had 17 points alone off my turnovers. Turns out to be a one-score game, six points. It’s frustrating when you do something like that when you’re moving the ball downfield.”

Mayfield lost three fumbles in a game for the first time in his career. He completed 23 of 28 passes on Sunday for 216 yards. He also rushed for 30 yards on five carries with a touchdown.

The Bucs had won five straight openers, including three with Mayfield as the starter.

“Well, obviously, you can’t turn the ball over,” coach Todd Bowles said. “We had four turnovers and lose by just one touchdown.”

Mayfield was sacked four times.

He fumbled in the first quarter while being sacked by Barrett Carter and Myles Murphy. Demetrius Knight Jr. recovered and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown, putting the Bengals ahead 7-3.

It was the Bengals’ first fumble return TD since Sam Hubbard’s 99-yard return in an AFC wild-card game on Jan. 15, 2023, against the Ravens.

On the Bucs’ next possession, Irving fumbled after catching an 8-yard pass from Mayfield.

Boye Mafe recovered at the Buccaneers 33-yard line leading to a 2-yard TD pass from Joe Burrow to Mike Gesicki making the score 14-3.

The third fumble of the half occurred when Mayfield scrambled and was stripped by Carter. Bryan Cook recovered in the end zone for a touchback.

“We always teach keep it high and tight,” Bowles said. “You've got to keep it high and tight.”

The Bengals drove 80 yards following the fumble and Chase Brown’s 5-yard run made the score 21-3 with 5:32 left in the second quarter.

Cincinnati led 24-10 at halftime.

The Bucs trailed 30-20 with 10 minutes left when Mayfield fumbled again, this time while being sacked from behind by Mafe.

“Just got to know there's somebody behind you at that point,” Mayfield said. “The internal time clock is going off in your head. Just keeping two hands on the ball in the pocket, you know. Ball security is the most important thing.”

Mayfield’s 9-yard scramble for a touchdown cut the Bengals’ lead to 33-27 with 3:19 remaining. But the Bengals were able to run out the clock.

The Buccaneers didn't punt on Sunday.

“It was either turnovers or points,” Bowles said. “One or two of (Mayfield's fumbles) was a scramble. The one in the pocket, already held a little bit too long. The one behind him he didn't see. He was running to try to make a play, but we got to hold on to the ball. Bucky (Irving) as well.”

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. (44) runs for a touchdown after recovering a fumble in the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) leaves the field after a 33-27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) scores a touchdown ahead of Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Jalen Davis (35) on a 9-yard run in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) scores a touchdown on a 9-yard run against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Barrett Carter (49) and fumbles the ball in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)