Munetaka Murakami hits grand slam as White Sox crush Athletics 9-2

Chicago first baseman's blast highlights 15-hit outburst in series opener

Apr. 18, 2026 at 4:41am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the explosive energy of a baseball player hitting a grand slam home run, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the player's motion and the ball's trajectory.Munetaka Murakami's towering grand slam blast encapsulates the White Sox's offensive outburst against the Athletics.West Sacramento Today

The Chicago White Sox collected a season-high 15 hits and crushed the Athletics 9-2 on Friday in front of a sellout crowd at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California. First baseman Munetaka Murakami hit a 431-foot grand slam in the seventh inning, the highlight of the offensive outburst.

Why it matters

The White Sox have struggled to score runs so far this season, so this offensive explosion against the Athletics is an encouraging sign for the team as they look to turn their season around. Murakami's grand slam was his first in the majors and showcased his power potential.

The details

In addition to Murakami's grand slam, the White Sox got three hits each from first baseman Munetaka Murakami and designated hitter Andrew Benintendi. Shortstop Colson Montgomery had two hits, two RBIs and a walk, while catcher Edgar Quero, second baseman Chase Meidroth and center fielder Luisangel Acuña also had two hits apiece. Starter Davis Martin pitched seven strong innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out four and walking two.

  • The game was played on Friday, April 18, 2026.
  • Murakami's grand slam came in the seventh inning.

The players

Munetaka Murakami

The Chicago White Sox first baseman hit a 431-foot grand slam, his first in the major leagues, as part of a three-hit game.

Andrew Benintendi

The Chicago White Sox designated hitter had three hits, including two doubles, scored two runs and drove in one.

Colson Montgomery

The Chicago White Sox shortstop had two hits, two RBIs and a walk.

Davis Martin

The Chicago White Sox starting pitcher allowed one run on three hits in seven innings, striking out four and walking two.

Sutter Health Park

The home stadium of the West Sacramento-based Athletics, where the game was played in front of a sellout crowd of 12,027.

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What they’re saying

“Munetaka Murakami's grand slam was the highlight of our offensive outburst tonight. He's been swinging the bat well all season, and it was great to see him connect for his first career slam.”

— Pedro Grifol, Chicago White Sox Manager

What’s next

The White Sox and Athletics will continue their three-game series on Saturday night at Sutter Health Park.

The takeaway

This offensive explosion from the White Sox is a welcome sight, as they look to build momentum and climb back into contention in the AL Central. Murakami's grand slam was the exclamation point on a dominant performance, and the team will hope to carry this success into the rest of the series and the season.