Rockies 5, White Sox 4: Walk-off home run leads to first loss

Zac Veen‘s walk-off home run on Monday ended impossible dreams of a perfect spring for the White Sox.

Will Venable’s squad kept things close against the Rockies, but never led in the loss. Colorado jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the first inning off of Shane Smith. The Sox drew within one in the 7th after Josh Breaux drove in a run before the Rockies tacked on another.

The team showed signs of life with three straight hits to open the 8th, and while the Sox tied things at 4, they were unable to take the lead.

Monday was the first time this spring that the Sox failed to leave the yard, ending their three-game home run streak.

On the mound, Smith, Seranthony Domínguez, Brandon Eisert, and Grant Taylor all made their 2026 Cactus League debuts. Eisert and Taylor each notched a pair of strikeouts in scoreless frames, with Taylor touching 101 on the gun.

Scoring Summary

• Top 2nd: LaMonte Wade Jr. flies out to left. Miguel Vargas scores — White Sox trail 3–1.
• Top 7th: Josh Breaux doubles to left, Caleb Bonemer scores — White Sox trail 3–2.
• Top 8th: Caden Connor singles to left, Jordan Sprinkle scores — White Sox trail 4–3.
• Top 8th: Tristan Peters flies out to center, Matt Hogan scores — Score tied 4–4.

Full Box Score

Offensive Summary

1. Chase Meidroth (2B): 1-for-2
   • Rikuu Nishida (2B): 0-for-1, K
2. Kyle Teel (C): 0-for-3
   • Jordan Sprinkle (3B): 1-for-1, R
3. Munetaka Murakami (DH): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 K
   • Matt Hogan (PR): 0-for-0, R
4. Miguel Vargas (3B): 1-for-3, R, 2 K
   • Caden Connor (1B): 1-for-1, RBI
5. Andrew Benintendi (LF): 2-for-2, 2 2B
   • Tristan Peters (RF-LF): 0-for-2, RBI
6. LaMonte Wade Jr. (1B): 0-for-1, RBI, K
   • Brooks Baldwin (CF): 0-for-2
7. Luisangel Acuña (CF): 0-for-2, K
   • Caleb Bonemer (SS): 1-for-2, R, K
8. Jarred Kelenic (RF): 1-for-3, K
   • Mario Camilletti (LF): 0-for-1
9. William Bergolla Jr. (SS): 0-for-2
   • Josh Breaux (C): 1-for-2, 2B, RBI

Totals: 34 AB, 4 R, 11 H, 0 BB, 9 K

Pitching Summary

• Shane Smith: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
• Jacob Heatherly: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
• Seranthony Domínguez: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
• Brandon Eisert: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
• Grant Taylor: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
• Tyson Miller: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
• Ben Peoples: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
• Shane Murphy: (L, 0-1): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

Totals: 8.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 7 K

Key Performers

Andrew Benintendi (LF)

• 2-for-2, 2 2B

The only one of Derek Shomon’s “AARP boys” to appear today turned in a youthful performance, recording a pair of doubles. Benintendi hit both hard, with each having an exit velocity above 105 MPH.

Munetaka Murakami (DH)

• 2-for-4, 2B, 2 K

Murakami logged his second two-hit game of the Spring and picked up his second XBH with an opposite-field double.

Grant Taylor (RP)

• 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

In his Spring debut, Taylor looked to be in midseason form. The right-hander sat just shy of triple-digits on his fastball, dialing it up to 100.5 in his two-strikeout outing.

Updates

Colson Montgomery was originally penciled in at shortstop on Monday, but was scratched due to an illness. William Bergolla Jr. took his spot in the lineup.

Next Game

The White Sox take on the Mariners on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2:10 PM CT, with the game airing on MLB.TV. Anthony Kay is set to make his first appearance of the Spring.

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Featured Photo: @whitesox / X