The Chicago White Sox lost slugger Munetaka Murakami for most of Friday’s game against the Detroit Tigers because of right hamstring tightness.
Miguel Vargas made sure the Sox didn’t lose the game.
Vargas hit a walk-off, two-run home run with two outs in the 10th inning as the Sox defeated the Tigers 4-3 in front of an ecstatic crowd of 30,019 at Rate Field.
Photos: Chicago White Sox beat Detroit Tigers 4-3 in 10 innings
“I thought the guys did a great job of getting right back on track (after the Murakami injury),” manager Will Venable said. “You understand, really for all our players, when someone goes down there’s concern about their long-term health and where they’re at.
“And certainly Mune and what he brings to this team and clubhouse and on the field, it’s a significant impact for everybody, but I thought the guys did a great job of really getting back on line, staying focused and going to work.”
The Sox tied the score with a run in the ninth thanks to impressive baserunning by Andrew Benintendi on a bunt by Rikuu Nishida.
The Tigers scored a run in the top of the 10th. But the Sox responded with the big swing by Vargas, who jump-skipped his way around the bases after launching an 0-1 changeup from Drew Anderson over the left-field wall.
“I tried to drive in the runner (on second, representing the tying run) and put the team in position to where we can win the game,” Vargas said. “I got lucky. I got the right pitch and put a good swing on it and we got good results.”
And now they await an update on Murakami, who exited in the third while running to first base to avoid grounding into a double play.
“Looks like a little hamstring strain on the initial evaluation,” Venable said. “He’ll get some imaging tomorrow, but probably a couple weeks.”
When asked for clarity on a possible trip to the injured list for Murakami, Venable said: “Nothing official, got to continue the evaluation. But it might be a couple weeks.”
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported late Friday that the Sox plan to call up 2023 first-round pick Jacob Gonzalez from Triple-A Charlotte. The infielder, who turns 24 on Saturday, has 19 home runs for the Knights.
The Sox trailed 2-0 when Murakami batted with a runner on first and one out in the third. He hit a grounder to second baseman Zach McKinstry. The Tigers got a force at second, but Murakami beat the throw to first to avoid a double play.
The training staff came to check on Murakami, who was pulled from the game.
Murakami is tied with the Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez for the American League lead with 20 home runs. He is second in the AL in RBIs (41), one behind the Tampa Bay Rays’ Jonathan Aranda.
Murakami, who signed a two-year deal with the Sox in the offseason after eight years with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, is the only rookie in major-league history to reach 20 home runs before June.
“We know the big piece that Mune is for the team and what he does for the team,” Vargas said. “We all stayed together, and he was the first one in the clubhouse waiting for everyone. When you see that, it brings the group more together and closer.
“We all have to support him, and hopefully it’s nothing bad.”
Luisangel Acuña ran for Murakami and scored from first on a double to left field by Vargas, cutting the Tigers lead to 2-1.
It was still 2-1 in the ninth when Benintendi singled with one out and advanced to third on a single by Tristan Peters.
Nishida bunted. Tigers reliever Kyle Finnegan fielded the ball, gave a quick glance at Benintendi — who was halfway down the third-base line — and threw to first for the out. Benintendi took off for the plate after briefly freezing and made it safely as first baseman Spencer Torkelson’s throw was off the mark.
“(Benintendi has) been in those situations before. That’s what you get with a guy that has that kind of experience and that kind of baseball IQ,” Venable said. “Really good read by him there.”
The game went to extra innings, and the Tigers scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Zack Short to take a 3-2 lead.
Vargas made the most of his opportunity in the bottom of the 10th, sending the large crowd into a frenzy with his first career walk-off home run.
The Sox are a season-high three games over .500 at 30-27.
“In a way you’ve got to credit the fans to wins like that,” said pitcher Erick Fedde, who allowed two runs on four hits with three strikeouts and three walks in four innings following opener Brandon Eisert.
“The place was loud, it was electric. It makes the guys play better, makes their team feel pressure. I love seeing it.”
