Andrew Benintendi’s three-run homer in the top of the ninth off Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald helped the Chicago White Sox secure a 4-1 win and depart Chase Field on Thursday with a series victory.
Chicago White Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (23) hits a three-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the ninth inning at Chase Field on April 23, 2026.
Sewald walked two of the first three batters he faced before Benintendi blasted a down-the-middle, 91.5-mph fastball into the pool area in right-center field.
The outing was reminiscent of his April 3 outing against the Atlanta Braves in which his command was off and he served up a pair of homers, taking the loss. Like this one, it came in a non-save situation, and Sewald seemed to be battling his control throughout the outing.
The loss snaps a four series win streak for the Diamondbacks. It is just their second series loss of the season, the other a sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers the first weekend of the season.
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The Diamondbacks dropped to 14-11.
The Diamondbacks opened the scoring on Adrian Del Castillo’s RBI double to right field in the first inning. Ketel Marte was running on the full-count pitch and might have been held at third, but right fielder Everson Pereira’s throw went to second, prompting third-base coach J.R. House to wave Marte home.
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (4) acknowledges the Chicago White Sox bench in the first inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 23, 2026.
It was the only offense the Diamondbacks could muster on the day. Right-hander Davis Martin gave up just one run in 6⅓ innings, and relievers Grant Taylor (1⅔ innings) and Seranthony Dominguez (one inning) handled the rest.
The Diamondbacks went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position.
The White Sox tied it in the third — and might have taken the lead were it not for multiple baserunning blunders in the inning.
With runners on first and second, one out and a run already in, Colson Montgomery lined a clean single into right-center field. Munetaka Murakami broke from second but stopped, unsure if it would fall, and had to stop at third. Montgomery appeared frustrated by the outcome when he reached first base.
Pereira followed by hitting a ball that shortstop Geraldo Perdomo fielded on one hop. It was a tricky read for baserunners because it was close to being caught in the air, but Miguel Vargas, the baserunner on second, messed up the play even beyond that.
Vargas retreated to second, where Perdomo stepped on the bag to force out Montgomery from first. Vargas then, inexplicably, stepped off the bag, at which point Perdomo tagged him to complete an inning-ending double play.
The White Sox offense was quiet until the ninth. Chase Meidroth walked on four pitches to lead off against Sewald. He went to second on a sac bunt before Sewald walked Edgar Quero to put runners on first and second.
Benintendi’s homer, his second of the year, came on a 2-2 pitch.
Soroka, Rodriguez not going to Mexico
The Diamondbacks are holding back right-hander Soroka and left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez from the trip to Mexico City, manager Torey Lovullo said.
Neither is scheduled to pitch in the two-game series — right-handers Zac Gallen and Ryne Nelson will start on Saturday and Sunday, respectively — and the club wants to minimize the impact of the high elevation on their bodies, something Lovullo said the team has done in the past on trips to Colorado.
Mexico City sits at an elevation of 7,350 feet above sea level.
“It’s proven that altitude impacts your body,” Lovullo said. “There’s a little extra wear and tear on it. You might see me shorten some outings. I usually do it by seven to 10 pitches when we go up to Colorado. To keep them out of that environment, we felt like it would help their body prepare for their next set of starts in Milwaukee.”
Right-hander Merrill Kelly will, however, accompany the team to Mexico City.
“The reason why we’re bringing Merrill is it will be his fifth day on Sunday,” Lovullo said. “If something were to absolutely blow up, we could keep him fluid and dump him into a game.”
Lovullo shuffles top of lineup
After having Marte in the leadoff spot to open the season, Lovullo juggled the top of his lineup for the Diamondbacks’ finale against the Chicago White Sox by moving Perdomo to the top of the lineup and dropping Marte to second.
Corbin Carroll followed them in the No. 3 spot.
“I just felt like Corbin third, with the slug, with two guys potentially getting on base, give (Perdomo) a chance to dig into that starting pitcher a little bit with the pitch count, have him work hard to get him out would set him up for Ketel,” Lovullo said. “That’s traditionally what we’ve done in the past, and I switched it because this was something where I wanted to take a look at it.”
Marte batted leadoff in each of the 22 games he started this season prior to Thursday. His results have not been great, but he has ranked among the unluckiest hitters in the majors this season based on batted-ball data.
D-backs look ahead
– Saturday: At Mexico City, 3:05 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (1-1, 3.51) vs. Padres RHP German Marquez (2-1, 3.86)
– Sunday: At Mexico City, 1:05 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (1-2, 6.97) vs. Padres RHP Michael King (3-1, 2.28)
– Monday: Off
– Tuesday: At Milwaukee, 4:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (1-1, 9.31) vs. Brewers TBA
