Murakami hits 2 HRs, drives in 6 runs to lead AL Central-leading White Sox past Astros 12-3

CHICAGO (AP) — Munetaka Murakami homered twice and drove in a season-high six runs; Miguel Vargas, Chase Meidroth and Junior Perez also went deep as the Chicago White Sox beat the Houston Astros 12-3 on Sunday to avoid a series sweep.

>With his parents in attendance and on his bobblehead giveaway day, Murakami hit a 385-foot, two-run homer in the bottom of the first that gave Chicago its first lead of the game. It was his first homer since May 27th. He added a go-ahead, RBI groundout in the third inning and a two-run single in the seventh. He closed out his three-hit game with his 22nd homer of the season — a solo shot — to right-center in the eighth.

>Vargas hit his 22nd homer of the season in the sixth — a go-ahead, two-run shot to put the White Sox back on top 5-3. Meidroth followed in the seventh with a solo shot to break the game open. Perez hit his third homer of the season 376 feet to left in the eighth.

>Andrew Benintendi had an RBI single in the seventh for a 9-3 lead.

>Sean Newcomb (1-2) picked up his first win of the season after allowing one hit in two-thirds of an inning. Erick Fedde worked 4 1/3 innings in the start and surrendered three runs on five hits while striking out two.

>Ronel Blanco (0-1), making his second start of the year, allowed five runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings. Houston used four pitchers in the game, and all allowed at least two runs.

>Jeremy Peña hit two solo homers for Houston — one in the first for a 1-0 lead and another in the third. Taylor Trammell added a solo homer in the fifth inning.

>Houston had its five-game win streak halted.

Up nextWhite Sox LHP Noah Schultz (3-7, 6.04 ERA) takes the mound against the Yankees on Monday. The Yankees have not announced a starter.

>The Astros have not announced a starter for their series opener against the Angels on Monday. Host Los Angeles has not named its starter.

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>AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb