Munetaka Murakami's home run and heads-up throw power White Sox past Blue Jays

The White Sox got more of the power they expected from Munetaka Murakami. They also saw him redeem himself defensively during Saturday’s 6-3 win over the Blue Jays.

Murakami was not in the No. 2 spot in the Sox lineup. Instead, he was moved to fourth in response to Toronto using left-handed opener Mason Fluharty. The Sox pushed designated hitter Lenyn Sosa to second and shifted shortstop Colson Montgomery to sixth.

Because this is how baseball can be, Murakami’s two-run sixth-inning homer to give the Sox a 3-2 lead came off Toronto lefthander Brendon Little. Murakami’s home run was his first since his three-game tear to begin the season in Milwaukee and answered the two-run blast by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. that briefly put Toronto in front 2-1.

“That last inning, they got to us,” Murakami said through a translator. “So, definitely I wanted to get a run in. It was more less I wanted to move the runner forward and not too much of it. It was the best result coming off the bat. I was really glad we were able to push that lead.”

Two batters later, the Sox did when Montgomery homered. That one was also against the lefty Little.

“Me and Mune both, we have all the confidence in the world that we can face whoever and we know we can compete against whoever because you kind of have to have that mindset that you're the best and no one's going to beat you,” Montgomery said. “When they move us down in the order and things like that, we don't get discouraged thinking something's wrong.

“You just know it's part of the game plan; you just have to trust the coaches.”

Murakami likely earned even more trust in the field in the seventh.

Charged with a fourth-inning error that created a bases-loaded jam Anthony Kay escaped, Murakami helped keep the Sox in the lead in the seventh. With one out and the bases loaded, Toronto’s Nathan Lukes flew to Sox right fielder Tristan Peters. Myles Straw scored to make it 4-3 but Murakami cut off Peters’ low and accurate throw into the infield, getting the Tyler Heineman at third to end the inning.

“I was seeing the second-base runner so at that moment I was going to throw it to third,” Murakami said. “I made a good play out of it, so I’m really happy I made that.”

Peters wasn’t tempted to make the throw straight home, even if it would’ve been understandable for a right fielder to want to show off their arm and try for a highlight play.

“It’s really easy to want that out for yourself but the play there, especially with [the bases loaded] and the wind blowing in my face, I know it’s going to be a tough throw to get it through there,” Peters said. “You’ve got to keep it low. That’s what we’re taught.”

Munetaka’s been doing a lot that should be taught.

It’s only been eight games, but Murakami’s impact is already being felt. He also showed that he can respond to a little bit of adversity. Entering Saturday, Murakami was 3 for 16 over his past four games, striking out seven times.

Murakami snapped out of that mini-funk, helping the Sox clinch the series against the defending American League champions.

“He's built for this,” manager Will Venable said. “He's been everything that we imagined as far as his impact in the clubhouse, who he is as a person, his play on the field defensively as well as the power and plate discipline. Really good stuff from Mune."