CLEVELAND — Sometimes a team just needs a bounce to go their way.
The Chicago White Sox received a huge one — off Tristan Peters’ helmet — in the sixth inning of their crucial three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians.
Colson Montgomery came up with runners on first and second and no outs. He hit a grounder to first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, who threw to second in an attempt for a double play. But the throw bounced off Peters’ helmet and went into center field.
“I saw where he was playing, playing back a little bit and I was just going to run and see, maybe get in the way — not obviously get out of the baseline,” Peters said. “And then, felt it hit my head. It was probably one of the best feelings ever. When someone hits your head, anyways.”
Andrew Benintendi scored on the error. That was the first of six runs in the sixth inning for the Sox in a 7-3 victory in front of 24,318 at Progressive Field.
Kyle Teel drove in two with a double and Miguel Vargas hit a two-run home run in the inning that propelled the first-place Sox to a 1 1/2 game-lead over the second-place Guardians in the American League Central.
With the victory, the Sox (77-73) secured the season-series win — and thus a tie-breaker edge — over Cleveland (76-75). The Sox lead the season series 7-4 with two remaining. Their magic number for the division title is 10. The Sox have 12 games remaining in their regular season.
“It’s no secret what’s on the line here, everybody’s aware of it and everybody’s playing hard,” Sox pitcher Sean Burke said. “This series matters a lot. … Every game matters from here on out. But especially against the team that’s right behind you.”
Burke earned the win, allowing one run (zero earned) on four hits with four strikeouts and two walks in five innings as the bulk pitcher.
“He was outstanding,” manager Will Venable said. “Filling up the zone, a really good fastball, a really good slider, cutter, some good curveballs, and did a really nice job.”
Guardians starter Gavin Williams allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits with seven strikeouts and three walks in five-plus innings.
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He worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth to keep the game scoreless. The Sox had runners on second and third with no outs, and the bases loaded with one. Chase Meidroth hit a grounder to third, and José Ramírez cut down Munetaka Murakami for the force at the plate. Braden Montgomery then struck out.
Williams began the sixth by surrendering a single to Benintendi. Peters walked on an 18-pitch plate appearance that featured 12 foul balls.
“I was just trying to see it as deep as possible, especially when I got two strikes — and just battling,” Peters said. “I don’t know what pitch it was on, I felt like I was up there for like an hour. I was just exhausted. Honestly, after eight pitches I’m like ‘OK, this is getting pretty long.'”
That was Williams’ last batter. It was the longest plate appearance by a major-league hitter this season and the third-longest plate appearance in MLB since 2000, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
“That’s probably the most impressive at-bat I’ve seen this year in the league,” Burke said. “(Williams is) throwing 99 with two banger breaking balls and for him to foul off stuff and then to be able to spit on those balls out of the zone was super impressive.”
Montgomery’s grounder, facing reliever Tim Herrin, led to the run-scoring throwing error.
Venable said just as good as Peters’ at-bat was his base running in the sequence.
“That’s a base running fundamental,” Venable said. “You kind of get outside there knowing the throw is going to be coming from the deeper first-base position. It’s something he executed really well.”
Meidroth drove in Peters with a single to center. With one out, Randal Grichuk singled to load the bases. Teel got a big hit, knocking in two with a double to left to put the Sox ahead 4-0. Grichuk was thrown out at the plate on the play.
Vargas greeted Daniel Espino with a two-run homer to left field, his 31st of the season, extending the lead to 6-0.
“The (Peters) at-bat was really special to help pass the baton and after that, we saw the guys come through and finally get those big hits for us,” Venable said.
The Sox held on to strike first in the important series.
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“Obviously, we understand how important these games are — really, not just against the Guardians, but every game down here this stretch,” Venable said. “But certainly nice to get the first one.”