The runs kept coming in bunches Friday night for the Chicago White Sox.
They came early, as in 10 during the third inning. And late, as in five in seventh.
And in the end, the Sox scored their most runs in a game since 1970, crushing the Kansas City Royals 22-1 in front of 31,130 at Rate Field.
“Special,” manager Will Venable said. “It was a special night. Really good stuff up and down the lineup. Everyone contributed, the guys off the bench did a nice job. As good as our offense was, I thought our pitching was great too.”
The Sox hit five home runs while reclaiming sole possession of first place in the American League Central with the win and the Cleveland Guardians’ 3-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners.
Friday’s output tied for the second-most runs in a game for the Sox. They also scored 22 runs in a 22-13 win in Boston on May 31, 1970. The team’s highest-scoring game came on April 23, 1955, a 29-6 win at the Kansas City Athletics.
“It’s incredible,” center fielder Tristan Peters said. “It’s a ton of fun when everybody is doing well and seeing the ball well.”
There was no score Friday until the third, when the Sox broke loose with 10 runs, their biggest inning since they scored 11 in the second inning on May 7, 2023, in Cincinnati.
The rally in Friday’s third inning began with a one-out walk by Jacob Gonzalez. He advanced to third on a Sam Antonacci single.
Miguel Vargas then hit a 1-1 cutter from Mitch Spence over the left-field wall for his 18th home run of the season to give the Sox a 3-0 lead.
White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas swings for a three-run home run against the Royals in the third inning on June 26, 2026, at Rate Field. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Kyle Teel walked and then Andrew Benintendi doubled. With two outs, Chase Meidroth reached on an infield hit, scoring Teel to make it 4-0.
Braden Montgomery walked and Peters followed with a two-run single, stretching the lead to 6-0.
Gonzalez then hit a three-run home run, extending the lead to 9-0.
The Sox weren’t done. Far from it.
Antonacci singled and scored on a Vargas double, giving the Sox a 10-0 lead. Spence, who followed opener Steven Cruz, allowed 10 runs on eight hits in 1 1/3 innings.
“Just guys passing the baton,” Venable said of the third inning. “Just one good at-bat after the other and pretty quickly you have a special inning.”
A video board shows a 22-1 White Sox lead in the ninth inning against the Royals on June 26, 2026, at Rate Field. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
The 10 runs topped the team’s previous high for an inning this season of nine in the fourth inning on May 22 in San Francisco.
The slugging continued for the Sox. Benintendi hit a solo home run in the fourth against Beck Way, and Teel had a two-run shot in the fifth against Lucas Erceg. It was Teel’s first home run of the season after being reinstated from the injured list Monday.
Peters connected for a grand slam in the sixth against John Schreiber, making it 17-1.
“My goal in that at-bat was to, especially on the first pitch, just hit it as hard as I could and that’s what I tried to do and I did it,” Peters said.
Peters drove in six, Vargas and Gonzalez each knocked in five and Meidroth had four hits.
“That was really cool getting to see everyone hit,” Gonzalez said. “Not only that but we held them to one run. Pitching was great. (Starter David) Sandlin had the one inning where he gave up a run (in the fourth), but even then he got himself out of it which was huge.
“Just a complete game today.”
The 23 hits were the most for the Sox since Sept. 14, 2017, when they had 25 in Detroit.
“It’s awesome,” Meidroth said. “We all know how hard this game is. When everyone is getting theirs, it’s not every day that happens. It’s awesome that everyone could get a swing off today.
“Our pitchers did amazing again. Sandlin setting the tone was huge. … All-around good night.”
Sandlin, called up from Triple-A Charlotte before the game, benefited from the offensive outburst. He allowed one run on three hits with six strikeouts and three walks in six innings.
“The two games I’ve pitched at home, it’s been like 37 runs of support,” said Sandlin, also referring to a 15-2 victory against the Minnesota Twins on May 27. “It always feels pretty good to have that.
“It’s special, it’s a really special offense. So it’s fun to be a part of.”