PHOENIX — Chicago White Sox left fielder Sam Antonacci knew he had at least a double after hitting a fair ball down the left-field line in the ninth inning Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
And then things got strange.
A ball person attempted to field the hit as it came his way, apparently mistakenly believing it was foul. It hit his glove and bounced away. Diamondbacks left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. watched that sequence unfold and initially stopped going for the ball.
But Antonacci noticed none of the umpires put their hands up to indicate the play was over, so he kept running.
“I just wanted the extra base,” Antonacci said. “I wasn’t going to say anything. I was just going to take it.”
Antonacci slid in safely at the plate ahead of a late relay throw, resulting in a unique first career major-league home run.
The Diamondbacks asked for clarity on the ruling. Antonacci waited to see if the two-run inside-the-park homer would stand.
“I was honestly catching my breath,” he said with a smile. “I was a little out of shape on that run.”
Since interference wasn’t called on the field, the play was not reviewable, and the home run stood.
“It was cool,” Antonacci said. “(Got to) celebrate with the team.”
“That was a good first one to have,” manager Will Venable said after Tuesday’s game. “An interesting play. Credit to both those guys (Everson Pereira, who was the runner on base, and Antonacci) for continuing to play, and nice for Sammy to get his first one.”
Antonacci became the first Sox player to record an inside-the-park home run for his first career major-league home run since Kevin Bell on June 22, 1976, in Kansas City, Mo.
Antonacci had two hits, including an RBI triple in the first inning, in Tuesday’s 11-5 victory. It was Antonacci’s first multihit game as the Springfield native continues to adapt to life as a major-leaguer, on and off the field, since being called up from Triple-A Charlotte on April 15.
“It has been fun so far,” Antonacci told the Tribune before Tuesday’s game. “I think I’m finally starting to settle in, from all the flights and everything going on.
“It kind of speeds up a little bit, but now that I’ve gotten my feet under me and just playing baseball now, that’s all I’m worried about and not the extra stuff. That’s what it’s all about now — I get to play baseball and not worry about anything else.”
Antonacci, 23, has a .190/.320/.429 slash line (4-for-21) with the triple, home run, three RBIs, two walks and two runs in six games.
“Mixed results for Sam here early, but he’s been very consistent in his attitude and how he comes to the field,” Venable said before Tuesday’s game. “That’s one thing you don’t worry about with him. He’s just always locked in, always prepared and always gives you his best effort.”
Antonacci singled in his first major-league at-bat on April 15 against the Tampa Bay Rays at Rate Field. He went 1-for-3 with a walk that evening but then went 0-for-12 in his next three games with a walk. Antonacci had a pinch-hit single in Sunday’s series finale against the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif., and carried over the momentum to Tuesday.
“I’ve learned that it’s, honestly, it’s just the same game,” Antonacci said before Tuesday’s game. “The pitching is a little better, the stuff is a little better. Pitchers like to nibble around the zone a lot more and they have better control. But it’s a lot of the same stuff from what I’ve been seeing. I’ve been proud of my at-bats — except for one day I think, I forget what day in Sacramento it was — other than that, I thought I’ve been putting together really good at-bats, and just not having much to show for it.
“But the veterans and a lot of the other guys in the clubhouse have believed in me and keep telling me to keep going. I’m trying to knock my foot through the door and just continue to keep doing what I’ve been doing because I’ve prepared so much.”
The support from his teammates has been very helpful.
“Baseball’s hard,” Antonacci said. “But a lot of people have gone through a little bit of a rough stretch. Just to hear that from them and just to keep on going means the world to me. It makes me feel like I’m at home.
“So I appreciate that and it’s awesome to hear. Because when you’re comfortable, this game comes a lot easier than when you’re a little anxious and a lot of other stuff. So I appreciate all of them.”
