​CHICAGO (AP) — Sam Antonacci and Braden Montgomery each homered as the White Sox blew open a six-run first inning and went on to a 9-1 rout of the Oakland Athletics, extending Oakland’s skid to nine games and nudging Chicago into first place in the AL Central as the All-Star break arrived. Montgomery, who started his major league career on June 9, connected for four RBIs in a big-league game for the first time, having entered the day with eight RBIs across his first 28 games.
Chicago, now 50-45, swept the three-game set by outscoring Oakland 24-2 after being swept by Boston in the previous series. The White Sox hold a slim edge over Cleveland (51-46) in the division, with the margin measured by a hair in the standings.
Oakland’s slide reached its longest streak since a nine-game downturn from May 27 to June 4 last year, and the Athletics have dropped 13 of 14 overall and 17 of 20, slipping to 41-55. All-Star Shea Langeliers put Oakland on top in the first with his 21st homer, a blast off Noah Schultz that gave the A’s their first lead since July 1.
Antonacci set the tone for Chicago’s explosive first inning by connecting off J.T. Ginn (7-6) on the third pitch of the frame. The six-run outburst continued as Kyle Teel delivered a two-run single and Montgomery followed with a three-run homer, pushing the lead to 6-1.
Montgomery added an RBI single in a three-run fifth, further padding the cushion. Schultz earned the win by giving up one run and four hits over five innings, his first victory in seven starts. The left-hander had entered the game with a 0-6 record in his previous outings, having yielded 16 runs in 18 2/3 innings across those starts.
Ginn’s night ended on a sour note, as he was charged with eight runs (seven earned) while recording just four and a third innings, allowing six hits and three walks with seven strikeouts.
From there, Chicago’s bullpen did the rest. Jordan Hicks struck out the side in the sixth, Seranthony Domínguez worked a spotless seventh, and Tyler Schweitzer pitched two innings, allowing two hits, to close things out.
Oakland will host Washington for a three-game series starting Friday, while Chicago heads to Toronto to begin the second half on Friday, taking on the AL champion Blue Jays.
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