Time didn’t literally stand still Monday night — Mike Vasil’s magic wand isn’t that good — but for the White Sox, the Guardians and a crowd of 23,151 at Rate Field, it sure felt like it.
The Sox were poised to celebrate what appeared to be the first walk-off hit of rookie Sam Antonacci’s career, a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth. But the Guardians challenged the safe call that plate umpire Nick Mahrley made when Tristan Peters slid across the plate, leaving everyone in a state of suspended animation.
Players from both teams were scattered across the field waiting for a verdict. Anto-nacci, who had sprinted happily across the diamond after shooting his single past the ear of Guardians ace closer Cade Smith, stood on the edge of the outfield grass, at one point nervously placing his helmet back on top of his head.
“I was in the dugout,” said Chris Murphy, the fifth Sox pitcher of the night, “because if they ended up overturning it, then I’m going back out for the 10th with a job to do. But after I saw the first replay, I knew he was safe.”
Judgment Day, when it finally arrived, did go in the home team’s favor.
“The call stands,” crew chief Marvin Hudson said, confirming the Sox’ 6-5 win.
Replays, for those reviewing them in the umpires’ TV replay booth, did not provide sufficient evidence that the call on the field was wrong. That’s how close it was.
“Sometimes,” said a man in the elevator who looked like Jerry Reinsdorf, the Sox owner who officially doesn’t speak to the media, “you just have to be lucky.”
Meanwhile, on the field below, Antonacci was the happy rabbit being pursued by a pack of pinstriped greyhounds running with unbridled joy, chasing the rook deep into the outfield.
“I went sprinting out after Sam,” said Murphy (2-0), who went home with “winning pitcher” beside his name. “But he ran too far, so I’m the one who got the Gatorade dunk. I was soaked.”
Anthony Kay had pitched six scoreless innings, throwing to a catcher who’d caught him just once in spring training before heading off to Team Italy. Kyle Teel, who returned after missing the Sox’ first 76 games because of back-to-back leg injuries, got his first taste of what he’s been missing all these weeks. The Sox and Guardians are now tied for first in the American League Central.
What do you mean, you don’t believe in magic?
“This stuff didn’t just start,” Murphy said. “I’ve seen this for a while. Like, this is what this team does, man. There’s no giving up. Like, [the Guardians’] Cade Smith has been one of the best relievers in baseball. He shut us down in the eighth. Then we got to him in the ninth.
“Like, that’s the epitome of this team. You’re not going to beat us. We’re going to keep punching back.”
The Guardians had won 15 of their last 17 games against the Sox, turning them into their personal punching bags ever since Jose Ramirez KO’d Tim Anderson on an August night in 2023. They appeared poised to do it again Monday, scoring three runs off reliever Grant Taylor to tie the score in the seventh, then taking the lead in the ninth against purported closer Seranthony Dominguez, whose return to the dugout was accompanied by loud boos.
In between, the Sox seized the lead when Antonacci shattered his bat on a grounder to first. The combination of the broken bat flying his way and an otherworldly spin on the ball proved a double whammy for first baseman Rhys Hoskins. The ball skipped into right field for a go-ahead single.
“I wouldn’t want it to speed up,” said rookie Braden Montgomery, who doubled twice, walked and scored two runs. “I mean, standing there on the field, surrounded by all those people, everyone that loves the Sox, it was special. It was a magic moment.”
There’s that word again.