The White Sox were two outs from a win in the ninth when the sky cracked open and the rain came down hard. Liam Hendriks was on the mound facing Max Kepler as puddles formed around the infield. Kepler launched a ball deep to left-center, but Billy Hamilton tracked it down, leapt through the mud, and made a full-extension grab that saved the game. Covered in dirt front and back, Hamilton got up smiling while Hendriks screamed in Aussie approval. Kepler didn’t share the sentiment. The moment felt like a backyard game in a thunderstorm, with players soaked, sliding, and grinning.
Hendriks kept grinding through the weather and eventually got the final out when a high pop fly was secured to end it. Hamilton didn’t chase it this time, pointing to his teammates to take it. The White Sox sealed the win in brutal conditions. The highlight was clearly Hamilton’s sliding catch, which would’ve been great even without the mud but became unforgettable with it. He got swarmed in celebration, including a nod from manager Tony La Russa, who broke character just long enough to admit it was a hell of a play.