Three takeaways as White Sox reclaim first place with weekend split in Cleveland

CLEVELAND — The White Sox regained sole possession of first place in the American League Central on Sunday after a 7-6 victory against the Cleveland Guardians in front of 22,616 at Progressive Field.

Kyle Teel, Tristan Peters and Colson Montgomery homered early as the Sox built a 6-3 lead. The Guardians pulled even in the fifth on a three-run home run by Gabriel Arias.

The Sox broke the tie in the sixth, scoring a run when Sam Antonacci grounded out to first base. They held on to earn a split of the four-game series. The Sox (47-42) leave Cleveland with a one-game lead over the Guardians (47-44) in the division standings.

Here are three takeaways from Sunday.

1. The lengthy delay did not slow the Sox down.

Sox manager Will Venable said it took “a lot” to pull out Sunday’s win.

The game began after a rain delay of 1 hour and 27 minutes, which included additional maintenance for the warning track.

It didn’t take long for the playing conditions to become a factor.

Antonacci slipped twice in left field while trying to go after leadoff batter Travis Bazzana’s fly ball in the bottom of the first. The ball fell for a double.

Bazzana scored on a game-tying, two-run home run by Chase DeLauter against opener Chris Murphy.

The Guardians scored three runs in the first inning to briefly hold a 3-2 lead.

But the Sox tied the score with a solo home run by Peters in the second inning and went ahead with a three-run third that included a two-run home run by Montgomery, his 23rd of the season.

The Sox bounced back after Arias’ game-tying home run in the fifth.

Antonacci batted with the bases loaded in the sixth and hit a slow grounder that first baseman Kyle Manzardo slightly bobbled. Manzardo got the out at first, while Braden Montgomery scored to give the Sox a 7-6 lead.

That turned out to be the final score. Bulk pitcher Erick Fedde allowed two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings to collect the win. Trevor Richards allowed one hit in 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Sean Newcomb earned the save with 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

“There was a lot going on in that game, right from the beginning,” Venable said. “I thought the weather and the field impacted the game. There was a lot of impact with the delay there, but we found a way. That’s the most important thing. It wasn’t pretty, but the boys found a way.”

2. The Sox shook off tough losses to earn a series split.

The Sox suffered back-to-back walk-off losses to open the series. They scored late on Saturday for a 3-1 victory. And they scored in a variety of ways Sunday to earn another win.

“That’s the thing about this team, we’re never out,” said Teel, who had a two-run home run in the first inning on Sunday. “Whether it’s the score, whether it’s the series — we bounce back strong. We did a really great job responding these past two days.”

The Sox and Guardians have played seven games this season. Six have been decided by one run.

“Every one of those games were nail-biters,” Venable said. “We understand that’s how these games are going to be against the Guardians. We weren’t able to get it done the first couple, but (a) really nice job bouncing back. Credit to our guys for continuing to battle.”

Fedde added, “To come on the road, with what felt like the biggest games of the year, to have those performances is good. Proves we’re not going anywhere.”

3. An injury rehab assignment is ahead for Munetaka Murakami.

Venable said slugger Munetaka Murakami is going on an injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte beginning on Tuesday.

“Very much,” Murakami said, through an interpreter, of his excitement for the trip. “I’m just really happy that I’m able to get back to playing baseball.”

The first baseman is working his way back from a strained right hamstring. He suffered the injury on May 29 and landed on the injured list the next day.

At the time of his injury, Murakami led the American League with 43 runs and was tied for first in home runs (20) and RBIs (41).

“At some point, there’s a possibility that he plays for us before the (All-Star) break, for sure,” Venable said.