Murakami hits 3-run homer, White Sox top Tigers 3-1 to move into 1st place tie in AL Central

CHICAGO (AP) — Munetaka Murakami hit his team-leading 32nd home run and the Chicago White Sox moved into a tie with idle Cleveland for first place in the AL Central with a 3-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night.

Bryan Hudson (5-4), the second of four White Sox pitchers, got four outs for the win. Grant Taylor went the final 2 1/3 innings for his ninth save.

Chicago rebounded from a 6-3 loss at Cleveland on Wednesday that knocked them out of a share of first for the first time since July 4. Both the Guardians and White Sox are 78-75.

The White Sox are trying to become the first team in MLB history to make the postseason after losing 100-plus games in each of the previous two seasons.

Gleyber Torres drove in the Tigers' run in the third inning on a fielder's choice.

Murakami’s three-run homer, a 423-foot three-run drive to center in the first, was just the Japanese rookie’s third in his last 28 games. He launched the first pitch he saw, a high sinker from Framber Valdez.

Murakami also had a triple and struck out twice and is batting .111 in his last 28 games.

White Sox starter Erick Fedde allowed one run on four hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out six, walked two and hit a batter before Hudson relieved.

Valdez (10-11) yielded three runs on three hits in five innings. He struck out eight and walked four.

With two outs in the fifth, Torres was held to a single on a drive to the base of the left-field wall on a quick retrieval by left fielder Randal Grichuk.

Dillon Dingler followed with a double and Hudson entered and struck out Riley Greene. Spencer Torkelson led off the sixth with a liner to the left field corner, but Grichuk threw him out at second.

Tigers LHP Andrew Sears (0-1, 5.40 ERA) faced White Sox RHP David Sandlin (2-2, 5.64) on Friday.

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Detroit Tigers' Kevin McGonigle throws to first late as Chicago White Sox's Brenton Doyle bunt single during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Chicago White Sox's Brenton Doyle bunts during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Chicago White Sox's Bryan Hudson throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Chicago White Sox's Munetaka Murakami, right, celebrates his three-run with teammate Chase Meidroth, left, during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Nola allowed three hits over seven innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Mets 3-0 Thursday night to tie the Chicago Cubs for the top NL wild card in a game interrupted by a scary collision that led to New York first baseman Jared Young being carted off the field.

Young was knocked down when pitcher Nolan McLean struck him on the head with a knee when the two converged for Justin Crawford’s slow grounder in the sixth. Young was motionless on the field after the collision and taken to a hospital. New York manager Andy Green said a CT scan was negative and Young had concussion symptoms.

Nola (7-10) didn't allow a hit until Nick Morabito singled with one out in the sixth. He struck out four and walked three, improving to 4-2 with a 2.07 ERA in his last 10 starts.

Jonathan Bowlan got two outs in the eighth before exiting due to right groin tightness with a 2-2 count on Francisco Lindor. Jhoan Duran pitched a one-hit ninth for his 32nd save in 34 chances, finishing the Phillies' major league-high 19th shutout.

Philadelphia is 85-68, the same as the Cubs. The Phillies closed within four games of NL East-leading Atlanta (89-64).

New York has been blanked 15 times.

Bryce Harper had an RBI single and Luis Arraez and Crawford had sacrifice flies as the Phillies.

McLean (11-10) allowed one run, seven hits and three walks in five innings while striking out fives.

Newly acquired RHP José Urquidy (2-2, 5.28 ERA) is expected to pitch for the Phillies in some capacity Friday against Mets LHP Zac Thornton (4-5, 3.44 ERA).

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Philadelphia Phillies' Trea Turner, left, slides home past New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez on a sac fly hit by Luis Arraez during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber, left, greets Justin Crawford (2) after Crawford hit a sac fly during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean, top, collides with first baseman Jared Young as they chase a ball during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets first baseman Jared Young is brought off the field on a stretcher after colliding with pitcher Nolan McLean during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)