The Chicago White Sox enjoyed a triumphant third inning in their game against the Baltimore Orioles, highlighted by Colson Montgomery’s remarkable home run. The shortstop became just the third Sox player ever to hit a home run onto Eutaw Street at Camden Yards. Adam Dunn and Jeff Liefer were the only other Sox to achieve this rare feat.
Reflecting on his achievement, Montgomery said, “I didn’t even think it went over that gate, I thought it went through the gate. I knew I got it pretty good, though.” His home run contributed to a seven-run inning, which helped secure a 9-3 victory in front of 17,581 fans.
During this explosive inning, Jacob Gonzalez hit a two-run single, and Junior Perez added a three-run homer. By the end of June, the Sox led the American League Central alone, two games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians who lost to the Texas Rangers.
In a positive note for the Sox, they closed June with a 13-12 record, marking back-to-back winning months for the first time since 2021. Manager Will Venable praised the team’s consistency. “The valleys, which you expect to happen at times, really minimizing those. It’s a winning month, but you feel like we weren’t really hot this month and also didn’t really have those really bad stretches.”
The victory ended a stretch of seven consecutive road series losses for the Sox. “That’s big,” said Venable. “Disappointing we haven’t had a road series win in that long, but it’s a great time to get it.”
Starting pitcher Erick Fedde earned the win, despite allowing three runs on five hits over five innings. Reliever Tyler Schweitzer clinched the save by pitching four scoreless innings, a first since Keith Foulke’s six-inning save in 1997.
Fedde acknowledged the importance of his sweeper, saying, “Honestly, not a lot, but the sweeper was great.” He credited his success to the support from his teammates’ scoring. “Makes life a lot easier,” he added.
Kyle Teel, the Sox catcher, is finding his stride after returning from an injury. The team backed Fedde well, particularly in the third inning. Andrew Benintendi started with a single, followed by Montgomery’s 440-foot homer, marking his 21st of the season. “I’m up there trying to stick with my plan, stick with my approach,” noted Montgomery.
His home run against the Orioles made Montgomery the 137th player to land a home run on Eutaw Street, the 73rd from an opposing player. Manager Venable called the effort “majestic.” In the same inning, Gonzalez’s single with the bases loaded brought in two more runs, and Perez’s 409-foot homer to center made it 8-1.
Gonzalez added to the score with a double in the fourth inning, ensuring the Sox’s first series win against the Orioles since July 2021.
In a roster update, the Sox traded minor-league pitcher Ben Peoples to the Texas Rangers for minor-league catcher Ben Hartl. Peoples, who had a 2.39 ERA with Triple-A Charlotte, exchanged teams for Hartl, who hit .218 with High-A Hub City.
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