White Sox Dominate Blue Jays 12-4 in Post-Break Offensive Explosion -

TORONTO — White Sox hitters picked up where they left off before the All-Star break, pounding the Blue Jays 12-4 on Friday to pull a half game ahead in the American League Central and match a season-high at six games over .500 (51-45).

Catcher Kyle Teel tagged an RBI double during a five-run second inning that saw Braden Montgomery and Chase Meidroth knock in two more, before Sam Antonacci’s two-run rainbow of a home run over the right-field wall.

SAM ANTONACCI 💥 pic.twitter.com/50uvhFI6Yz
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 17, 2026

Colson Montgomery cleared a loaded set of bases with a double in the fifth, and Braden Montgomery did the same with his first career triple in the seventh. Every Sox starter had a hit as they piled 12 on the last-place Jays.

tacked on 4️⃣ more ✅ pic.twitter.com/0RAmATwVzI
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 18, 2026

Sox starter Anthony Kay labored through four innings, giving up two runs on two hits and three walks, with five strikeouts. He also hit his MLB-leading 17th and 18th batters of the year.

All-Star Miguel Vargas exited the game after getting plunked on the hand in the eighth.

No derby concerns

After Munetaka Murakami’s nine-homer outing failed to get him out of the first round of the Home Run Derby, the slugging rookie arrived in Toronto looking for his first dinger in game action since May 27, before the hamstring injury that kept him out for six weeks.

Manager Will Venable said he’s not worried about Murakami’s Derby action affecting the slugger’s form in the second half, brushing aside the common notion in many baseball circles that the free-swinging spectacle can throw hitters off their mechanics.

“I’m hoping that it helps Mune’s swing, after some time off, to be able to get some swings in,” Venable said. “And honestly, his stroke is a home run stroke anyways.”

Chase Meidroth (10) and Munetaka Murakami (5) celebrate after scoring on a three-RBI double by teammate Colson Montgomery during the fifth inning Friday in Toronto.

Murakami’s 20 homers are still good for third on the team behind Colson Montgomery (23) and Miguel Vargas (21).

“He obviously did such a good job on the field, and such a good job in the clubhouse and the dugout,” Venable said. “He was so meaningful for us in the first half, and we expect him to be meaningful in the second half.”

Shelter from the smoke

The retractable Rogers Centre roof was closed for Friday’s series opener on an otherwise beautiful summer night due to the plumes of Canadian wildfire smoke that consumed Chicago and much of the continent this week.

“The smoke is a real concern,” Venable said. “Glad that it’s not a concern with the roof.”

With scoreboard-watching season in full swing, the smoke wiped out Cleveland’s home matchup with the Pirates, which was postponed due to air-quality concerns.

On the mend

The Sox sent outfielder Austin Hays out on a rehab assignment Friday on his way back from the calf strain that has sidelined him since early May.

Hays will be joined at Triple-A Charlotte this weekend by fellow outfielder Everson Pereira, who’s working his way back from the concussion he suffered on a painfully spectacular catch last month at Yankee Stadium. The Sox’ offseason additions have combined to play 33 games this season between stints on the injured list.

Meanwhile, Drew Thorpe, the prize of the Dylan Cease trade, was expected to start a rehab assignment with the Sox’ Arizona Complex League squad on his way back from Tommy John surgery in March 2025..

July 31 will mark two years since the last time Thorpe played for the Sox, who don’t line up to face Cease this weekend after his All-Star Game start for the American League.

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The Chicago White Sox delivered a commanding performance Friday night in Toronto, cruising to a 12-4 victory over the Blue Jays. The win strengthens Chicago’s position in the American League Central division and lifts their record to 51-45, establishing their strongest mark of the season six games above .500.

A devastating second-inning outburst powered the White Sox offense, as the team scored five runs to seize early control. Kyle Teel’s RBI double sparked the rally, with Braden Montgomery and Chase Meidroth each driving in runs before Sam Antonacci delivered a two-run home run to right field.

Chicago’s offensive barrage persisted throughout the game, with contributions spanning multiple innings. Colson Montgomery registered an extra-base hit with runners in scoring position during the fifth frame, while Braden Montgomery added a triple in similar circumstances. All nine White Sox batters recorded at least one hit in the contest.

Starter Anthony Kay proved efficient through four innings, allowing just two runs on limited hits while recording five strikeouts. Kay extended his major league-leading total to 18 hit batsmen after striking two Blue Jays, including All-Star Miguel Vargas in the eighth inning.

Manager Will Venable dismissed concerns that Munetaka Murakami’s Home Run Derby participation Friday negatively impacted his timing. Though Murakami launched nine home runs during the competition before exiting in the first round, Venable expressed confidence in the youngster’s development.

Murakami currently possesses 20 home runs this season, ranking third on the club behind Colson Montgomery’s team-leading 23 and Miguel Vargas’s 21. The outfielder remains unavailable due to a hamstring injury that forced him to miss six weeks before the All-Star break.

Rogers Centre closed its roof Friday as a precautionary measure against Canadian wildfire smoke that has degraded air quality across the region and much of North America. Venable acknowledged the air quality challenge and credited the roof closure with mitigating the effects.

Poor air conditions also forced Cleveland to postpone its home game against Pittsburgh. The White Sox continue managing multiple players on rehabilitation assignments as preparations intensify for the second half of the season.

Outfielder Austin Hays commenced a rehab stint Friday at Triple-A Charlotte while recovering from a calf injury suffered in early May. Teammate Everson Pereira will report to Charlotte this weekend to continue his rehabilitation from a concussion sustained during a diving play at Yankee Stadium in recent weeks.

Drew Thorpe, acquired in the Dylan Cease trade, is scheduled to begin his rehabilitation assignment with Chicago’s Arizona Complex League affiliate. The pitcher has not appeared for the organization since undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2025, making his return critical to strengthening the starting rotation moving forward.