CLEVELAND, Ohio - Munetaka Murakami got his first MLB postseason home run Saturday as the Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-0 in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.
With one on and no outs in the fourth inning, the rookie belted a first-pitch sinker from Parker Messick (0-1) into the right-field stands at Progressive Field for the game's first runs.
"It was a perfect home run," Murakami said of his two-run shot that had an exit velocity of around 180 kilometers per hour, near his fastest this season, and traveled some 134 meters.
Colson Montgomery doubled in an additional run in the seventh and five pitchers combined for a shutout as the White Sox opened the best-of-five series with a victory against the Guardians, who won the AL Central by finishing a game ahead of the White Sox.
"It's important to take the initiative in these short-term battles. I was really happy," Murakami said. "The bullpen is in good form and I felt they would keep the other team at bay if we could somehow get a run."
"The batting order is really seamless and functioning as well. Everyone's thinking about what to do in the next game after a loss."
Murakami, who went 2-for-4 on the day after getting a single in the first, is enjoying his time with the White Sox and did his best to rally his teammates during a defensive timeout.
"My teammates are cheerful. They welcomed me from Spring Training. I'm grateful and happy," he said. "I just said, 'Let's go!' (during the timeout). I can't speak English, so I thought I should at least say that much."
Shohei Ohtani went 1-for-4 for the Los Angeles Dodgers as the two-time defending World Series champion beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 in their National League Division Series opener.
Yuki Matsui threw a scoreless inning in relief as the San Diego Padres lost 3-2 against the Milwaukee Brewers.
