In a thrilling back-and-forth contest at Guaranteed Rate Field, the Chicago White Sox continued their recent surge with a 5-4 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night. The win was fueled by the historic power of rookie sensation Munetaka Murakami and a high-stakes closing performance by Seranthony Domínguez. With this victory, the White Sox have now won four of their last five games, showing signs of life as the first month of the 2026 season nears its conclusion.
Munetaka Murakami Ties Franchise Record with 11th Home Run
The story of the early season for the Chicago White Sox has undoubtedly been Munetaka Murakami. The Japanese slugger continued his tear through MLB pitching by blasting his 11th home run of the season in the fourth inning. The 415-foot solo shot to center field tied the game at 1-1 and moved Murakami into a tie with Houston’s Yordan Alvarez for the major league lead in home runs.
Murakami’s power display is not just a hot streak; it is historic. By reaching 11 home runs before the end of April, he tied Paul Konerko’s 2010 franchise record for the most home runs hit in the opening two months of the season. Murakami has now gone deep in six of his last seven games, proving that his transition from the NPB to the major leagues is ahead of schedule. Despite a high strikeout rate, his ability to change a game with one swing has made him the centerpiece of the South Side lineup.
Late-Inning Rally and the White Sox Comeback
The game was a see-saw affair that saw the Nationals take multiple leads. Washington struck first in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Luis García Jr., and they reclaimed the lead in the fifth inning. Despite a bizarre play where Nasim Nuñez was picked off attempting to steal home, the Nationals managed to plate two runs in the fifth, thanks to a run-scoring walk by Daylen Lile and an RBI forceout by Brady House, making it 3-1.
However, the White Sox bullpen and depth hitters rose to the occasion. In the seventh inning, Chicago capitalized on the wildness of Nationals reliever Riley Cornelio, who was making his MLB debut. Cornelio walked the first two batters he faced and committed an error on a bunt single, allowing the tying run to score. Colson Montgomery and Tristan Peters followed with RBI singles to give the White Sox their first lead of the night.
The drama continued into the eighth when Brady House tied the game at 4-4 with a solo home run off Jordan Leasure. But the White Sox answered immediately in the bottom half of the frame. Sam Antonacci delivered the decisive blow, a tiebreaking sacrifice fly that scored the go-ahead run and set the stage for the ninth inning.
Seranthony Domínguez Slams the Door for 6th Save
With a narrow 5-4 lead, the White Sox turned to closer Seranthony Domínguez to navigate the heart of the Nationals' order. Domínguez, who has been solid since joining Chicago, faced a daunting task with the potential tying run reaching third base. He began the inning by striking out Nasim Nuñez and then induced a ground out from José Tena.
The game came down to a battle between Domínguez and Nationals leadoff hitter James Wood, who currently boasts one of the top four OPS marks in the league. With the pressure on, Domínguez blew a fastball past Wood for a swinging strikeout to end the game. It was Domínguez’s sixth save of the year, further stabilizing a White Sox bullpen that has faced its share of questions early in the season. Jordan Leasure (2-0) earned the win despite the blown save, while Cornelio (0-1) took the loss for Washington.
Looking Ahead: Schultz vs. Irvin
The series continues on Saturday as the White Sox look to clinch a series victory. Chicago will send highly-touted prospect Noah Schultz (1-1, 3.86 ERA) to the mound. The Nationals will counter with Jake Irvin (1-3, 6.00 ERA), who is looking to bounce back after a difficult start to the campaign. Washington will also be monitoring the status of catcher Keibert Ruiz, who was absent from Friday's lineup, while the White Sox continue to wait on a rehab assignment for catcher Kyle Teel as he recovers from a hamstring strain.
For fans of the Chicago White Sox vs Washington Nationals rivalry, this series opener provided exactly the kind of tension and star power expected in the 2026 season. If Murakami maintains this pace, the South Side could be looking at a record-breaking rookie campaign.
Sources & Original Reporting
