Montgomery hits 28th homer in AL Central-leading White Sox's 7-4 win over Twins

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Colson Montgomery hit his 28th homer and Andrew Benintendi drove in two runs to help the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 7-4 on Friday night.

Chicago took advantage of shaky pitching early by the Twins. Montgomery's three-run homer off starter Dean Kremer (2-5) in the first inning put the White Sox up 4-0.

The Twins climbed back with first-inning homers by Brooks Lee and Kody Clemens. Lee also singled in the second to tie it at 4 before Chicago regained the lead on Benintendi's double in the third.

Both starting pitchers went just four innings. Chicago right-hander Luis Castillo allowed four runs on eight hits, while Kremer gave up six runs — five earned — in his outing.

Reliever Grant Taylor (7-2) pitched 2 2/3 shutout innings for Chicago for the victory. Bryan Hudson pitched the ninth for his sixth save.

White Sox center fielder Tristan Peters ended his home run streak at five games, which matches a franchise record. He went 1 for 4 with a single.

The Twins are 8-14 since the trade deadline as their wild-card hopes continue to fade. Minnesota is four games out of the final wild-card spot in the American League, with four teams ahead of them.

Minnesota's top prospect Walker Jenkins made his debut in the majors Friday, batting ninth and playing center field. He drew a nice ovation from the home crowd after his first at-bat, a deep flyout to the warning track. Walker got his first hit his next time up, singling to right in the fourth inning.

Chicago RHP Erick Fedde (6-8, 4.18 ERA) was set to start Saturday against Minnesota RHP Bailey Ober (7-4, 4.49).

Minnesota Twins' Walker Jenkins points to the bench after hitting a single, making his MLB debut, during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)

Minnesota Twins' Luke Keaschall runs to first base after hitting a single during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)

Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas (20), first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) and right fielder Braden Montgomery (24) celebrate after winning a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)

Chicago White Sox' Colson Montgomery (12) celebrates with Braden Montgomery (24) and Andrew Benintendi (23) after his home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)

Chicago White Sox's Colson Montgomery runs the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays got county approval Friday on a financing plan that will allow them to build a new stadium, a day after city officials approved their part for the $2.3 billion ballpark project that will replace the domed Tropicana Field.

The Hillsborough County Commission voted 5-2 on Friday to approve its $796 million share of the mixed-use entertainment district that includes a new 31,000-seat stadium that will be near Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Rays' new stadium is expected to open in 2029. The Tampa City Council city voted 4-3 on Thursday to approve $80 million.

Rays CEO Ken Babby said the team’s partnership with the county and city on the project secures the long-term future of Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay.

“We now look forward to celebrating before breaking ground with Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa on a future that has long been doubted, but will indeed happen,” Babby said. “By making the Forever Home a reality, the Rays are now home forever in Tampa Bay.”

The Rays have committed to contributing at least $1.3 billion, plus any cost overruns. Another $30 million will come from federal disaster recovery funds.

The Rays ownership reached an agreement earlier this year with Hillsborough College to build the stadium and entertainment district on the campus and to renovate some of the school’s buildings. The property is located next to the New York Yankees’ spring training facility and across a highway from the NFL stadium.

Since the team's inception in 1998, the Rays have played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, except for moving home games to the Yankees’ George M. Steinbrenner Field in 2025 following hurricane damage at the Trop. The Rays’ lease runs through at least the 2028 season. The team returned to the Trop for the start of this season.

A proposed $1.3 billion redevelopment deal for a new ballpark adjacent to the Trop fell through last year, raising new questions about the future of the team, which was bought last September by Patrick Zalupski’s ownership group.

“This has been a long and challenging process, and we know that transformational projects rarely come easily,” Zalupski said Friday. “Today’s vote represents an extraordinary milestone, not simply for the Rays or for a ballpark, but for the future of Tampa and the entire Tampa Bay region.”

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FILE - Players from the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays are introduced before a baseball game Monday, April 6, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)