PHOENIX — Munetaka Murakami tied a Chicago White Sox franchise record on Wednesday with a home run in his fifth consecutive game. But the Sox couldn’t dig out of a huge hole, and lost 11-7 to the Arizona Diamondbacks in front of 20,799 at Chase Field.
Murakami hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning against Diamondbacks reliever Ryan Thompson. He joined A.J. Pierzynski (2012), Paul Konerko (2011), Carlos Lee (2003), Frank Thomas (twice in 1994), Ron Kittle (1983) and Greg Luzinski (1983) as Sox players to homer in five straight games.
“I’m really happy that I (tied) the record,” Murakami said through an interpreter.
Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery also continued home run streaks on Wednesday for the Sox.
But Ildemaro Vargas had two home runs and five RBIs for the Diamondbacks. He hit a three-run home run against Sox starter Anthony Kay during a four-run second inning.
Miguel Vargas, no relation, led off the third with a home run to left-center, bringing the Sox within 4-3. He has homered in three straight games.
Ildemaro Vargas answered with a two-run home run in the bottom of the third, stretching Arizona’s lead to 6-3.
Montgomery led off the fourth with a home run. He has homered in four consecutive games.
“I think we are in a great spot offensively,” Vargas said. “It’s great to see the guys swing the bat and have good results. I think since early in the year we had really quality at-bats and now it’s showing up.”
The Diamondbacks scored twice in the bottom of the fourth, including on a balk called on Kay.
“Tough one from Anthony,” Sox manager Will Venable said. “Some small misses, but we talked about the fastball command before the game. Just got to get them in the zone with that fastball.
“He just fell behind in counts, and they’ve got a really good team over there, a lot of good hitters and it makes it really tough. Overall just couldn’t slow down their offense at all.”
Kay allowed eight runs on eight hits with three walks and one strikeout in 3 2/3 innings.
“Have to do a better job of getting in the zone,” Kay said. “Any time you score seven runs, you should win the game. So that one’s on me today.”
Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer against Sox reliever Lucas Sims in the sixth inning, giving the Diamondbacks a 10-5 lead.
Murakami brought the Sox within 10-7 with the two-run home run in the seventh, which went 451 feet. He has a team-leading 10 home runs.
“I’m just running out of things to say (about Murakami),” Venable said. “Obviously, he continues to put himself in a really good spot to take good swings on good pitches, making great swing decisions, and making a ton of contact. And when he hits it, he hits it really hard.
“Even the singles he’s hitting, he’s hitting hard, and obviously the damage is incredible, too. So, yeah, it’s impressive to watch.”
But the Diamondbacks added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh and held off the Sox (9-15).
“We’re definitely influencing each other and happy the three of us (Murakami, Vargas and Montgomery) hit (home runs), and all of the lineup getting a lot of runs in is obviously a good thing,” Murakami said. “Other than that, I’m really disappointed that we lost today. We’ve just got to get out there tomorrow and really win the series.”
