For the third time this Spring, the White Sox tangled with the crosstown Cubs, and for the third time, the Southsiders walked away victorious.
Friday’s 4-2 win over the Cubs marked the Sox first win since Monday as the team enters the penultimate weekend of Spring Training.
Sox pitching dominated in the game, with Davis Martin cruising through four shutout innings on just 39 pitches. The right-hander was the better Martin today, as Korey Lee gave the team an early lead with an RBI single off Cubs starter Riley Martin.
Lee also homered, driving a ball 425 feet to center in the fifth. With Kyle Teel estimated to miss 4-6 weeks, Lee should have a strong chance at making the team, especially considering his strong showing this Spring. Lee’s performance today raised his OPS to 1.260.
The Cubs got on the board in the sixth, plating a pair of runs after Jarred Kelenic misplayed a ball in center field to bring the score to 3-2. Everson Pereira gave the Sox a run back in the bottom of the frame, launching his first homer of the Spring to put the team up 4-2.
Sean Newcomb covered three innings out of the bullpen, recording six of his nine outs via the strikeout while allowing three hits. Jordan Leasure took over in the ninth and nailed down his first save of the Spring with a perfect inning.
Scoring Summary
- Bottom 2nd: Korey Lee singles to center, Curtis Mead scores — White Sox lead 1-0
- Bottom 4th: Andrew Benintendi doubles to center, Austin Hays scores — White Sox lead 2-0
- Bottom 5th: Korey Lee homers to center — White Sox lead 3-0
- Bottom 6th: Everson Pereira homers to left — White Sox lead 4-2
Full Box Score
Offensive Summary
- Chase Meidroth (2B): 0-for-3,
- Jacob Gonzalez (2B): 0-for-1, K
- Colson Montgomery (SS): 1-for-3, K
- George Wolkow (RF): 0-for-1
- Everson Pereira (DH): 1-for-3, HR, R, RBI, HBP, K
- Austin Hays (RF): 1-for-2, R, K
- Oliver Dunn (3B): 1-for-2, K
- Andrew Benintendi (LF): 1-for-2, 2B, RBI, K
- Drew Romo (C): 0-for-2, K
- Jarred Kelenic (CF): 1-for-3, K
- Jacob Burke (LF): 0-for-1
- Curtis Mead (3B): 1-for-2, 2B, R
- Dru Baker (LF-CF): 0-for-1
- Korey Lee (C): 2-for-2, HR, R, 2 RBI
- William Bergolla Jr. (SS): 0-for-1
- Dustin Harris (1B): 0-for-3
- Caden Connor (1B): 0-for-0
Totals: 32 AB, 4 R, 9 H, 0 BB, 8 K
Pitching Summary
- Davis Martin (W, 2-1): 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 B, 4 K
- Jordan Hicks: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
- Sean Newcomb: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
- Jordan Leasure (S, 1): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Totals: 9.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 13 K
Key Performers
Davis Martin (SP): 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Martin looked ready for the season to begin. He breezed through the Cubs lineup, navigating four innings on 39 pitches. He allowed just two baserunners and punched out four and now carries a 3.00 ERA thorugh 12.0 innings this Spring.
Korey Lee (C): 2-for-2, HR, R, 2 RBI
With an opening at catcher following Kyle Teel‘s injury, Lee looks primed to fill in. He’s been nothing short of fantastic this Spring, and continued to produce today. The catcher is now slashing .385/.529/.731 with a pair of homers in 34 PAs.
Sean Newcomb (RP): 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Newcomb allowed his share of baserunners, but racked up six punchouts in just three innings of work. The southpaw used a six-pitch mix to generate seven swings-and-misses. His slurve was particularly deadly, drawing two whiffs and three strikeouts.
Updates
Will Venable said that the Sox rotation beyond Shane Smith has yet to be determined, per 670 The Score’s Bruce Levine.
The Sox game against the Reds on Saturday, March 21st, was moved to 8:05 CT due to forecasted extreme heat.
Venable also entertained Teel’s idea of adding an espresso machine to the dugout, per MLB.com’s Scott Merkin.
“Whatever gets the guys going. If it’s an espresso in there, it’s fine by me,” said the Sox skipper.
Team Italy players took espresso shots to celebrate home runs in the World Baseball Classic.
Next Game
The Sox take on the Dodgers tomorrow at 3:05 CT. Mike Vasil is set to start, while the Dodgers’ starter has yet to be announced.
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