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MILWAUKEE \u2014 Munetaka Murakami<\/b>\u2019s second homer in as many games couldn\u2019t help the White Sox overcome another sloppy showing to start the year as an ugly defensive effort buried them Saturday in a 6-1 loss to the Brewers.<\/p>\n
Murakami became the first player in Sox history to homer in each of his first two career games with a majestic, 409-foot blast to right-center on a 92 mph meatball from Milwaukee starter Chad Patrick <\/b>in the fourth inning. The 26-year-old first baseman went 1-for-3 on the night with a walk and a strikeout.<\/p>\n
Murakami also answered early questions about his defense by diving to stop a screaming grounder down the line to steal extra bases from Jake Bauers<\/b>.<\/p>\n
But the Sox\u2019 defense didn\u2019t do starter Sean Burke<\/b> many favors. Left fielder Andrew Benintendi<\/b> couldn\u2019t track down a deep fly in the first inning resulting in a double for Brice Turang<\/b>, who scored on a Christian Yelich<\/b> single. Two more Milwaukee singles and an ill-advised throw from right fielder Everson Pereira<\/b> made it a three-spot.<\/p>\n
The Brewers struck again the next inning when Benintendi couldn\u2019t catch up to another double for Turang, who came around on a Burke throwing error. The 6-6 righty lasted four innings, striking out five, walking one and surrendering seven hits, and the bullpen didn\u2019t fare much better. <\/p>\n
As bad as the season\u2019s start has been for the Sox<\/u><\/a>, Opening Day for the Charlotte Knights bloomed with tantalizing possibilities for the franchise\u2019s next wave of talent \u2014 including for the two biggest arms that could point which way this rebuild goes.<\/p>\n In his first Triple-A start, left-handed 2024 first-round pick Hagen Smith<\/b> gave up a run but struck out four over three innings of work Friday. Oswego East product Noah Schultz<\/b>, the towering 2022 first-rounder<\/u><\/a>, fanned five over four hitless frames in relief.<\/p>\n Shortstop prospect William Bergolla Jr.<\/b> went 4-for-5 with two doubles, and following up his World Baseball Classic run with Team Italy<\/u><\/a>, Springfield native Sam Antonacci<\/b> smacked a three-run homer en route to the Knights\u2019 19-2 blowout over the Durham Bulls.<\/p>\n Bergolla tabbed three more hits and Antonacci homered again Saturday in a 2-1 win. <\/p>\n Antonacci, an infielder by trade, started both games in left field, which could hasten his big-league debut.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a chance that he gets asked to do that at the Major League level,\u201d Sox player development director Paul Janish<\/b> said. \u201cIf that\u2019s the case, we want to have him prepared to do it if and when the time comes.\u201d<\/p>\n Before their second game of the season, the Sox optioned veteran lefty reliever Tyler Gilbert<\/b> to Charlotte and claimed southpaw Bryan Hudson<\/b> off waivers from the Mets.<\/p>\n Additionally, catcher Korey Lee<\/b> cleared waivers and reported to Triple-A for the Sox after winding up the odd man out to Reese McGuire<\/b> in spring training<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n Gilbert, notably absolved of sticky-glove mischief<\/u><\/a> last season after umpires confiscated his mitt during a game, was roughed up for two runs in an inning of work on Opening Day.<\/p>\nComing and going<\/b><\/h3>\n