# One misplay could decide the AL Central

> A defensive mistake by Sam Antonacci costs the White Sox in a walk-off loss that tightens the division race.
- Title: One misplay could decide the AL Central · New York Post
- Summary: A defensive mistake by Sam Antonacci costs the White Sox in a walk-off loss that tightens the division race. In a tight pennant race, a single fielding error…
- Keywords: al central, white sox, cleveland guardians, sam antonacci, brayan rocchio, walk-off double, fielding error, division race, september baseball, news, entertainment, One
- Source: New York Post — https://nypost.com/2026/09/16/sports/one-dogs-t-play-could-end-up-deciding-who-wins-al-central
- Published: 2026-09-16T13:33:33+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: al central, white sox, cleveland guardians, sam antonacci, brayan rocchio, walk-off double, fielding error, division race, september baseball, news, entertainment
## Antonacci's costly mistake
White Sox left fielder Sam Antonacci misplayed a fly ball in the ninth inning, allowing Brayan Rocchio's walk-off double to plate the tying and winning runs in a 7-6 Guardians victory.

> Pretty dogs, t, to be honest. Just have to clean it up.
## Division lead shrinks to half game
The loss trimmed Chicago's AL Central lead to just half a game with one final matchup remaining between the rivals this season.
## Rocchio's September heroics
Rocchio, who has seven career walk-off plate appearances, delivered his fourth September walk-off hit with a calm approach at the plate.

> I didn't try to do something special in that moment. I just tried to put the bat to the ball.
## Guardians claw back from early deficit
Cleveland fell behind 6-5 after squandering an early 3-0 lead but rallied in the ninth to keep their division title hopes alive.
## White Sox's surprising season
Chicago has held at least a share of first place since July 4 despite losing at least 100 games in each of the past three seasons.
## Bazzana powers Guardians early
Rookie Travis Bazzana hit two homers for Cleveland, including a 442-foot shot in the first inning as part of a 3-0 early lead.
## Key takeaway

In a tight pennant race, a single fielding error can swing momentum and playoff hopes between rivals.