White Sox 12, Astros 3: Munetaka Murakami turns heads on bobblehead day - Sox Machine

What the report says

Sox Machine reported that the Chicago White Sox beat the Houston Astros 12-3 on July 26, 2026, avoiding a series sweep behind a breakout game from Munetaka Murakami on his bobblehead day. Murakami went 3-for-5 with two home runs and six RBIs, ending both a team homerless stretch of five games and his own drought dating to May 27.

Murakami’s two-run opposite-field homer off Ronel Blanco in the first inning put Chicago ahead 2-1 after Houston had opened the scoring. The Astros later tied the game at 3-3 on three solo homers against Erick Fedde, including two by Jeremy Peña. Miguel Vargas delivered the decisive swing in the sixth, hitting a two-run homer to give the White Sox a 5-3 lead after Sam Antonacci doubled and advanced to third.

Chicago broke the game open late. Chase Meidroth homered in the seventh, Murakami added a two-run single, Andrew Benintendi drove in another run, and Junior Pérez and Murakami hit back-to-back homers in the eighth. The White Sox finished with five home runs, while Antonacci and the players who replaced him helped set the table from the leadoff spot.

The win also mattered in the standings: with Cleveland losing earlier, Sox Machine reported that Chicago’s AL Central lead grew to a season-high 2½ games. The bullpen was another key factor, combining for 4⅔ scoreless innings after Fedde exited in the fifth. Murakami’s parents participated in ceremonial first pitches before the game, adding a personal note to his standout performance.