CHICAGO (AP) — White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery set the season record for strikeouts with 224 when he was set down looking in the fifth inning of Chicago’s game against the Colorado Rockies on Friday night.
The left-handed-batting Montgomery struck out on a 3-2 count against right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano for the second out of the fifth. He didn't take the bat off his shoulder on Sugano's 93.3 mph fastball down the middle.
The 24-year-old Montgomery reached the dubious mark in his in his 631st plate appearance and 561st at-bat of his second season.
Montgomery surpassed Mark Reynolds’ record of 223 K’s, set in 2009 when Reynolds made 662 plate appearances with Arizona in his third season in the majors. Reynolds batted .260 that year with 44 homers, 102 RBIs and 24 stolen bases.
Montgomery entered Friday batting .200 with 31 homers and 87 RBIs. He he had 112 hits and 54 walks, and was batting eighth against Colorado.
In his last 20 games entering Friday, Montgomery was batting .088 with 36 strikeouts in 79 plate appearances. He had six hits, including two homers and two doubles, in that span, along with eight RBIs and seven walks.
The White Sox clinched a playoff berth on Thursday with a 9-1 win at Kansas City, becoming the first team to reach the postseason following consecutive 100-loss seasons. They entered Friday one game behind AL Central-leading Cleveland.
Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber has struck out 218 times.
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Chicago White Sox's Colson Montgomery walks back to the dugout after striking out during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Freddy Peralta pitched into the sixth inning to help Tampa Bay deny Philadelphia a third straight shot at clinching a wild-card spot, as the AL East champion Rays beat the Phillies 2-0 on Friday night.
The Phillies entered leading Arizona by two games for an NL wild card with three to play. The Phillies would have clinched their fifth straight playoff berth with a win against the Rays and an Arizona loss to San Diego.
The Phillies instead lost their third straight and delayed a potential clincher at least until Saturday when they will throw a bullpen game against the Rays.
Jonny DeLuca had an RBI single in the first inning and Nick Fortes hit a homer in the second to back Peralta (10-11) as the Rays tune up for the playoffs. The Rays have home-field advantage in the AL Division Series and would have it if they reach the AL Championship Series.
Tampa Bay received a scare when .300-hitting left fielder Chandler Simpson fouled a ball off his right foot. He was in pain but finished the at-bat and struck out.
Peralta struck out four and allowed four hits over 5 1/3 innings. Bryan Baker tossed a scoreless ninth for his 41st save.
For the moment, Tampa Bay has surrendered its home field. Major League Baseball moved a regular-season series finale between the Red Sox and Chicago Cubs from Fenway Park to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, because of a weekend storm threat in the Boston area.
Cristopher Sánchez (18-7) struck out 10 and walked one in seven innings.
The Phillies sluggers continued to shrivel in the September spotlight.
The gut punch came in the sixth inning when Trea Turner and Bryce Harper led off with consecutive singles. Alec Bohm grounded out but advanced the runners. Bryson Stott lined out to second and pinch hitter Bryan De La Cruz lined out to shortstop.
The Rays send RHP Griffin Jax (8-10, 3.62 ERA) to the mound while the Phillies plan a bullpen game.
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Philadelphia Phillies' Bryson Stott (5) is out at second as Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Ben Williamson, right, throws to first base for a double play in the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero runs home to score on an RBI single by Jonny DeLuca in the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
Tampa Bay Rays' Jonny DeLuca hits an RBI single in the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
Tampa Bay Rays' Chandler Simpson reacts on the ground after he fouled a ball off his leg in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Freddy Peralta throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
