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White Sox shake off ‘Freaky Friday,’ 5-run sixth flips series vs. Guardians
Saturday at Guaranteed Rate Field, the South Siders broke it open with a five-run sixth: Munetaka Murakami launched a solo homer, Tristan Peters and Chase Meidroth delivered two-run knocks, and Chicago closed out a 6–3 win behind bullpen work from Bryan Hudson and Grant Taylor, snapping a four-game skid [1].A day later, Chicago finished the job 5–3 to claim the series over Cleveland and keep the momentum rolling on the South Side [3][4].Saturday’s result nudged the Sox three games clear of both Cleveland and Minnesota in the AL Central race, a timely swing as the calendar tightens [1]. The afternoon also doubled as Ozzie Guillén’s number retirement, celebrated before an announced sellout crowd of 38,227 at the Rate [1].Manager Will Venable, a day removed from a mound-visit gaffe that cut short Noah Schultz’s outing, labeled the mistake “inexcusable” and the club responded the right way [1]. Around the game, the Sox optioned Schultz and David Sandlin to Triple-A while evaluating rotation options, including the recall of pitching prospects Hagen Smith and Tanner McDougal from Charlotte [1].