White Sox drop back-and-forth game, series to Phillies

PHILADELPHIA — The high-powered Phillies’ offense overpowered White Sox pitchers Sunday to take the rubber match of the back-and-forth series 9-5. It was a disappointing end to a weekend that saw the Sox go toe-to-toe with the hottest team in the majors during the last month.

The Phillies pounced for a first-inning lead on back-to-back doubles from Trea Turner and Bryce Harper against opener Tyler Gilbert, but the Sox responded in the second with a sacrifice fly from Drew Romo and an RBI single from Sam Antonacci to take the lead.

The Phillies, however, snagged the lead right back with a two-run homer from Rafael Marchan against Sox bulk pitcher David Sandlin. The teams traded runs for the next couple of innings, with the Sox getting an RBI double from Tristan Peters, the Phillies a homer for the third consecutive game from Brandon Marsh and the Sox a pinch-hit, two-run single by Randal Grichuk.

Sandlin gave up three runs and three hits, struck out six and walked three in 3⅓ innings before the Phillies took control with three runs in the fifth against Tyler Davis and two more in the sixth against Bryan Hudson. That was after pinch hitter Edgar Quero fell just a few feet short of a go-ahead, three-run homer on a fly that was hauled in by Marsh.

The Sox, who are without rookie slugger Munetaka Murakami (hamstring), kept things close in the three-game set. They were outscored 20-17 by the Phillies in a respectable start to their most challenging stretch of the schedule. The Braves, Dodgers and Yankees are up next.

‘‘Good stuff from our offense,’’ manager Will Venable said. ‘‘Just got to continue to limit the walks and find a way to get some zeros.’’

Antonacci stayed in the game after getting hit on the arm by a 99.6 mph sinker from Jose Alvarado, his major-league-leading 15th plunking.

Martin delayed

Venable said ace Davis Martin wouldn’t make his scheduled start at home Tuesday against the Braves ‘‘just to give him a little extra rest to make sure that he’s in a good spot and feeling good.’’

Erick Fedde will take the mound instead, but the other pitching matchups for the homestand haven’t been announced.

High-flying outfielders

Rookie outfielders Antonacci and Peters put on a defensive clinic over the weekend.

Antonacci, a natural infielder who has looked increasingly comfortable since shifting to left field this season, made an impressive leaping catch at the wall Friday on a deep drive by Bryson Stott. That came a few innings after Peters made a diving catch to steal a hit on a liner by Turner.

Peters robbed Harper and Marsh of extra bases with running catches near the wall late in the game Sunday, too.

‘‘It’s been impressive, and we’ve seen it in a bunch of different ways,’’ Venable said of Antonacci. ‘‘Cutting balls off, a lot of the dives in front. . . . He’s just continuing to have plays in which he’s learning, growing and continuing to getting better.’’

The same goes for Peters, whose glove earned him a roster spot out of spring training but whose surprising bat (.307/.365/.448) has locked down an everyday role in center.

‘‘He just continues to make plays for us,’’ Venable said. ‘‘It’s really as simple as that.’’

Injury updates

Catcher Kyle Teel has ramped up his baseball activities while traveling with the team as he recovers from the knee injury delaying his 2026 debut. The prized backstop is sprinting and hitting off a tee, but he’s not up to full speed on catching drills and still doesn’t have a timeline for getting back on the field.

“I want to be out there with the team,” Teel said. “The success the team’s having is great, and I’m just grinding every day with the idea in my head that I’m gonna contribute when I’m back. That’s what really motivates me every single day.”

Rookie starter Noah Schultz (right knee patellar tendinitis) is “making good progress” on his way back from the right knee patellar tendinitis that sidelined him after Memorial Day and is scheduled to throw another bullpen session this week, Venable said.

And outfielder Everson Pereira (pectoral strain) looks like he could be back with the Sox soon. He slugged a two-run homer in his second game of a Charlotte rehab assignment Saturday.