White Sox 8, Cubs 1: Offense explodes in Cactus League opener

Baseball is officially back on our televisions, and the White Sox wasted no time in Friday’s Cactus League opener against the Cubs.

Austin Hays started things off with a first-pitch homer in the first inning, shortly followed by Sam Antonacci‘s two-run shot in the second. Japanese star Munetaka Murakami looked solid in his Spring Training debut, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, while Korey Lee went 3-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.

Off the bench, William Bergolla Jr. was a perfect 2-for-2 with two doubles and a run scored. Derek Hill also reached base three times (1-for-1, two walks), and top prospect Braden Montgomery turned on the jets with an RBI triple in the eighth.

On the mound, Jonathan Cannon got the start, striking out three and walking one over 1.2 innings. His only blip came on a Seiya Suzuki homer in the first, which turned out to be the North Sider’s lone run of the afternoon. From there, the pitching staff dominated, fanning nine more batters over 7.1 scoreless innings.

Scoring Summary

• Top 1st: Austin Hays homered to center (428 ft), White Sox lead 1–0.
• Top 2nd: Sam Antonacci homered to right (417 ft), Derek Hill scored — White Sox up 3–1.

• Top 2nd: Tristan Peters singled to center, Korey Lee scored — White Sox extend lead to 4–1.
• Top 4th: Munetaka Murakami doubled to center, Tanner Murray and Kyle Teel scored (Hays to 3rd) — White Sox lead 6–1.

• Top 8th: Braden Montgomery tripled to center, Darren Baker scored — White Sox up 7–1.

• Top 9th: Korey Lee reached on an infield single, William Bergolla Jr. scored on a throwing error — White Sox 8, Cubs 1.

Full Box Score

Offensive Summary

1. Curtis Mead (3B): 0-for-4, 2 K
   • Drew Romo (C): 0-for-1
2. Kyle Teel (C): 0-for-3, R, BB, 2 K
   • Darren Baker (2B): R, BB
3. Austin Hays (LF): 1-for-2, HR, RBI, R, BB, K
   • Braden Montgomery (RF): 1-for-2, 3B, RBI, K
4. Munetaka Murakami (1B): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, K
   • Ryan Galanie (1B): 0-for-1
5. Derek Hill (CF): 1-for-1, R, 2 BB
   • William Bergolla Jr. (SS): 2-for-2, 2 2B, R
6. Sam Antonacci (2B): 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, R
   • Oliver Dunn (3B): 0-for-2
7. Korey Lee (DH): 3-for-4, R, BB
8. Tristan Peters (RF): 1-for-3, RBI, K
   • Jacob Burke (CF): 0-for-2, K
9. Tanner Murray (SS): 0-for-2, R, BB
   • Caden Connor (LF): 0-for-2

Totals: 38 AB, 8 R, 12 H, 7 RBI, 7 BB, 9 K

Pitching Summary

• Jonathan Cannon (W, 1–0): 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, HR
• Riley Gowens (H, 1): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER
• Tyson Miller (H): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K
• Tyler Schweitzer: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
• Jairo Iriarte: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K
• Ben Peoples: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K
• Zach Franklin: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, K
• Jackson Kelley: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, K

Totals: 9.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R (1 ER), 4 BB, 12 K, 1 HR

Key Performers

Austin Hays (LF)

• 1-for-2, HR (1), BB, RBI, R

The team’s newest outfielder jump-started the offense with a home run on the very first pitch he saw. Not to mention the bat flip was pretty sweet too.

Sam Antonacci (2B)

• 1-for-3, HR (1), 2 RBI, R

The “pretty boring ballplayer” proved to be anything but when he crushed a two-run homer and launched his bat towards the White Sox dugout.

Munetaka Murakami (1B)

• 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI

Mune looked solid in his White Sox spring training debut. The first baseman finished just a triple and home run shy of the cycle, driving in two across four at-bats.

Korey Lee (DH)

• 3-for-4, BB, R

Lee quietly collected the most hits of anyone in the lineup, singling three times and scoring in the second.

William Bergolla Jr. (SS)

• 2-for-2, 2 2B, R

Coming off the bench as a defensive replacement in the fifth, Bergolla recorded a pair of doubles and scored on a fielding error in the ninth.

Next Game

The White Sox will host the Athletics in their Camelback Ranch home opener on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 PM CT, with the game airing on CHSN and ESPN 1000.

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Featured Photo: © Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images