The Crosstown Classic returned to 35th Street last weekend, and if you weren’t at Rate Field, you missed it. Over three days, the White Sox didn’t just play the Cubs—they defined their identity, proving that in 2026, the neighborhood isn’t backing down from anyone.
The Series at a Glance
- Friday, May 15 (L, 10–5): The series started with an offensive fireworks show. Despite a valiant effort featuring long balls from Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery, the Sox couldn’t hold off a late-inning rally from the North Siders.
- Saturday, May 16 (W, 8–3): The “Home Run Derby on 35th.” Saturday was a statement win. Munetaka “Murakami-sama” put on a clinic with a historic multi-homer performance, and Colson Montgomery’s 442-foot blast into the suite windows essentially turned the game into a victory lap.
- Sunday, May 17 (W, 9–8): The series finale was pure cinema. After Tristan Peters hammered his first career home run in the 8th to take the lead, the Cubs forced extra innings. With one out in the 10th, Edgar Quero stepped up and crushed a 95.5 mph fastball for a walk-off, three-run homer. The sound in the park when that ball cleared the fence? That was the sound of a series win.
The “Murakami-sama” Effect
You can feel the energy shift every time Munetaka Murakami steps into the box. South Siders have affectionately dubbed him “Murakami-sama”—a nod to his legendary slugging ability that has made him the heartbeat of this lineup. While the North Siders are clearly growing frustrated with his power numbers, the fans at Rate Field are eating it up.
What’s Next?
We took the series, but the rivalry never sleeps. Mark your calendars: the White Sox head to Wrigley Field for the next Crosstown showdown from August 17–19. After the way Sunday ended, the tension at the Friendly Confines is going to be through the roof.
The Chicago Route will be there to cover every pitch. Will the North Side get their revenge, or will “Murakami-sama” and the crew keep the momentum rolling? Follow along here for the real story.
Game by Game.
The full play-by-play for the stats crew. Scroll on for the inning-by-inning recap of each game.
Friday, May 15 — Cubs 10, White Sox 5
- The Start: The Cubs came out aggressive, with Ian Happ delivering an early RBI single. The White Sox responded with some serious power—Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery both launched solo home runs, keeping things tight and tied at 4–4 by the sixth inning.
- The Turn: The game shifted in the seventh when the Cubs capitalized on a bases-loaded opportunity. Carson Kelly drove in two runs with an infield single to pull ahead.
- The End: The Cubs broke it open in the eighth with a four-run rally. While Jarred Kelenic crushed a massive 446-foot homer in the ninth, the deficit was just too much for the South Siders to overcome.
Saturday, May 16 — White Sox 8, Cubs 3
- The Start: The White Sox flipped the script completely for the second game. The bats woke up in a major way, fueling a high-energy performance that got the crowd at Rate Field behind them early.
- The Power: This was a true showcase of the White Sox lineup. Munetaka Murakami and Miguel Vargas were the stars, both delivering huge multi-homer games.
- The End: Colson Montgomery added a 442-foot “moonshot” that hit the suite windows, effectively silencing any Cubs momentum and setting the stage for a series-deciding rubber match on Sunday.
Sunday, May 17 — White Sox 9, Cubs 8 (10 Innings)
- The Start: The Cubs jumped out to a 3–0 lead in the first inning thanks to a Michael Busch home run. It felt like an uphill battle for the South Siders early on.
- The Grind: The White Sox slowly clawed back into it. By the fifth, a clutch two-run double from Miguel Vargas tied the game, and in the eighth, Tristan Peters hit his first career home run—a massive three-run blast that put the Sox up 7–4.
- The Heart-Stopper: Just when it looked like the win was in the bag, the Cubs rallied in the top of the ninth with a three-run homer from Michael Conforto to tie it 7–7.
- The Finish: After the Cubs grabbed a one-run lead in the top of the 10th, the White Sox responded immediately. With one out in the bottom of the 10th, Edgar Quero stepped up and crushed a 95.5 mph fastball for a two-run, walk-off home run. It was absolute bedlam at the park—the perfect ending to a hard-fought series win.