That is 0 articles you have read today.
The Aporia is free and carries no advertising, so readers are the only
thing paying for it. If you are getting this much out of it, a small
donation is what keeps it independent.
Daily limit reached
You have read 0 articles today.
That is more than the 15 a day The Aporia gives away,
and well past what it can carry on nothing. Your allowance resets at
midnight.
There is no advertising here and nothing about you is sold, so readers
are the only thing paying for it. If the site is worth this much of
your day, it is worth a few dollars.
Everything else stays open: the
maps, the
directory and
search do
not count against this, and neither does re-opening something you have
already read today.
Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-04 · by Joe Reedy The Associated Press
Munetaka Murakami hit a crucial two-run home run in the fourth inning, which helped the Chicago White Sox secure a 3-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of their American League Division Series. The homer came after the White Sox prevented the Guardians from scoring with runners on base in the third inning. Manager Will Venable praised Murakami’s contribution, noting that his timely hit was key to the win.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Houston Astros and the Chicago White Sox, two unlikely playoff teams with remarkable turnaround stories, faced off in a best-of-three AL Wild Card Series starting on Tuesday in Houston. The Astros clinched their division title despite ending the regular season at exactly .500 (81-81), marking them as baseball’s first such division winner. In contrast, the White Sox overcame losing 100 games each of the last three seasons to secure a playoff spot.
In Game 1 on Tuesday, the White Sox took an early lead with four runs in the first inning and won 6-3 despite the Astros employing a bullpen game strategy led by AJ Blumbaugh. The announced attendance was sparse at 34,011, leading to fan frustration among the players who heard boos throughout the game.
The White Sox continued their strong performance on Wednesday, sweeping the series with a 7-3 victory in Game 2. This marked Chicago's first playoff series win since 2005 and advanced them to face the AL Central champion Cleveland Guardians in the Division Series starting Saturday in Cleveland.
Despite Houston’s playoff woes at home—dropping their ninth straight home playoff game—they expressed disappointment over fan support, with players like Bennett Sousa feeling that they needed more encouragement from their audience. Manager Will Venable of the White Sox praised his team for maintaining belief and achieving a historic turnaround to clinch this victory.
Written for “White Sox Playoff Run” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 16 other(s) covering the same event.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Munetaka Murakami really wanted to get the first run for the Chicago White Sox in a postseason game.
asserted
Murakami → want → game
The Japanese power-hitter delivered that with a two-run homer as the White Sox defeated the Cleveland Guardians 3-0 on Saturday in an AL Division Series opener.
asserted
Sox → deliver → opener
“That’s what playoff baseball is about, is your big dogs going out there and making big plays,” manager Will Venable said.
asserted
Venable → ’ → plays
“Mune is the guy in the middle of the lineup that’s been doing it all year for us.
asserted
that → do → us
Obviously a huge swing right there especially after we had just gotten out of a tough jam there.
asserted
we → get → jam
We needed it.”
asserted
We → need → it
The White Sox struck quickly after they prevented the Guardians from scoring with the bases loaded in the third inning.
asserted
bases → strike → inning
Miguel Vargas lined a base hit leading off the fourth.
asserted
Vargas → line → fourth
One pitch later, Murakami drove an elevated sinker 440 feet into the right-field stands for his first postseason home run.
asserted
Murakami → drive → run
The 26-year old Murakami, among eight rookies on the White Sox postseason roster, paused for a couple seconds to bask in the towering shot, which the Japanese announcers called “priceless two-run blast,” before tossing his bat and turning to the dugout to celebrate with teammates.
asserted
announcers → pause → teammates
“I can’t really explain it in words right now but it was something a little bit dirty,” said Murakami through an interpreter when asked what he yelled to the dugout.
asserted
he → explain → dugout
Murakami, who signed a $34 million, two-year deal in December as the White Sox incurred a $6,575,000 posting fee to the Yakult Swallows, had 35 homers and 75 RBIs during the regular season.
asserted
Sox → sign → season
He went 3 for 19 against Cleveland during the regular season, but one of those hits was a home run off Parker Messick.
asserted
one → go → Messick
Murakami got some confidence during the second inning with a base hit to center.
asserted
Murakami → get → center
So I was very comfortable going to that at-bat, and that was pretty much the approach, and I swung really clean,” Murakami said.
asserted
Murakami → go → bat
Messick said the pitch was on the inner half of the plate but he thought Murakami was sitting on it.
asserted
Murakami → say → it
Cleveland catcher Austin Hedges also thought it was a good pitch but a better swing by Murakami.
asserted
it → think → Murakami
“He’s just a stud.
asserted
He → ’ → ?
He can hit a home run every pitch in every spot.
asserted
He → hit → spot
So you got to keep him off balance as best you can,” Hedges said.
asserted
Hedges → got → balance
“Man, he’s fun to watch hit, just not when he’s playing against us.”
asserted
he → ’ → us
Chicago has won nine of 11 dating to the regular season.
asserted
Chicago → win → season
Murakami said the White Sox might be playing their best baseball now as they prepare for Game 2 on Monday.
uncertain
they → say → Monday
“If you score one run, I have so much confidence that we can win the game, which is really good,” he said.
asserted
he → score → game
And I’m just really happy that we pulled this off.
asserted
we → ’m → this
It really defines the outcome to the series.
asserted
It → define → series
So we’ll get the one-day rest tomorrow.
asserted
we → get → rest
We’ll come back rested, and then we’ll focus on winning.”
asserted
we → come → ?
The Aporia
