Colson Montgomery hits 3-run homer and White Sox top Guardians 5-3 to increase AL Central lead

CHICAGO (AP) — Colson Montgomery’s 26th homer, a three-run shot, capped Chicago’s four-run third inning and the White Sox held on to beat the Cleveland Guardians 5-3 on Sunday.

Munetaka Murakami and Randal Grichuk each doubled in a run as the White Sox won their second straight, increasing their AL Central lead to 3 1/2 games over second-place Detroit. Cleveland and Minnesota fell four games back.

Brenton Doyle had two hits to help Chicago win its 61st game, one more than in 2025 when the team finished last in the American League at 60-102.

Steven Kwan had two hits for the Guardians (58-61), who lost for the fifth time in six games. Kwan and Murakami extended their on-base streaks to 25 games, tied for the longest active run in the majors.

The game was delayed by rain for 2 hours, 23 minutes, after the first inning with the Guardians ahead 2-1. Both managers replaced their starters — Chicago’s Davis Martin and Cleveland’s Joey Cantillo — when play resumed.

White Sox left-hander Hagen Smith took over in the second, making his major league debut. Smith (1-0) tossed two scoreless innings for the win, but walked the bases loaded in the third before Brayan Rocchio lined out to third to end the threat.

Trevor Richards, the sixth Chicago reliever, allowed a run in the ninth on two walks and José Ramirez's sacrifice fly, but earned his third career save and first this season.

Cleveland lefty Tim Herrin entered in the bottom of the second, followed by Craig Yoho with two outs in the third. Yoho (2-1) allowed four runs on two hits and four walks while getting only one out.

After Grichuk’s double down the left-field line tied it at 2, Montgomery lined a cutter to right to put Chicago ahead 5-2.

Guardians: RHP Tanner Bibee (4-11, 3.85 ERA) faces Tigers RHP Drew Anderson (4-4, 4.01) on Tuesday in Detroit.

White Sox: RHP Sean Burke (7-6, 3.08 ERA) starts against Cincinnati LHP Nick Lodolo (3-2, 4.60) on Tuesday in Chicago.

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Chicago White Sox's Sean Newcomb throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Cleveland Guardians' Tim Herrin throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Chicago White Sox's Hagen Smith throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Cleveland Guardians' José Ramírez (11) tags out Chicago White Sox's Brenton Doyle, center, who was trying to extend a double into a triple during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Chicago White Sox's Colson Montgomery watches his three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

SEATTLE (AP) — Cedric Mullins' RBI single in the fifth inning put Tampa Bay ahead and Ian Seymour pitched six innings of one-run ball as the Rays beat the Seattle Mariners 4-1 Sunday to complete a three-game series sweep.

Seymour settled in after a bumpy first inning. Taylor Ward opened the game with a triple and scored on Cole Young's single to give Seattle a 1-0 lead. Dominic Canzone also had a single in the inning.

Seymour (9-3) allowed just two hits the rest of the way, and finished with two walks and seven strikeouts. Steven Matz pitched the ninth to earn his first save of the season.

Rays designated hitter Yandy Diaz, who along with Chandler Simpson had four hits, tied the game at 1 with an RBI single in the fourth inning that scored Mullins.

Mullins put the Rays ahead with a single off Mariners starter Emerson Hancock in the fifth that scored Junior Caminero. Tampa Bay finished with 14 hits.

Hancock (6-7) gave up two runs on nine hits over 4 2/3 innings.

The Rays added two more runs in the sixth against Mariners reliever Jose Ferrer. Liam Hicks knocked in Diaz and Simpson with an RBI double down the left field line.

The Mariners have lost four in a row and five of their past six games.

Rays: RHP Freddy Peralta (5-9, 5.37 ERA) will face Athletics LHP Jacob Lopez (5-4, 5.64) on Monday.

Mariners: RHP Bryan Woo (8-8, 4.31 ERA) will start against Yankees LHP Ryan Weathers (5-7, 3.79) Tuesday in New York.

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

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Jose A. Ferrer delivers during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Mariners' Josh Naylor reacts after popping out during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ian Seymour delivers during the third inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Tampa Bay Rays' Cedric Mullins hits an RBI single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)