It looked like the Chicago White Sox were poised to pick up their fifth win of the spring, but it was not meant to be as the Cincinnati Reds stormed back for an 8-7 victory in Goodyear.
Leading 7-5 in the bottom of the ninth, the Sox gave up a two-run home run to Brandon Dixon to tie the game up at 7-7, and then Brian Clark gave up an RBI single to Chadwick Tromp as the Reds stormed back for the one-run victory.
The day wasn’t all bad for the White Sox, as they got some good offense out of some of their young stars. Jose Rondon notched an RBI triple in the second inning, and picked up another RBI with a sacrifice fly in the top of the third to give the Sox a 6-1 lead.
Leury Garcia also had a solid day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a triple and a pair of runs for the South Siders.
Hurler Reynaldo Lopez made his first start for the Sox in the Cactus League campaign, giving up an earned run and striking out two batters in two innings of work.
For the Reds, first baseman Joey Votto went 0-for-1 with a strikeout and a walk, and Eugenio Suarez went 3-for-3 with a run scored in the victory.
News and Notes:
Chicago Baseball
-White Sox prospect Jake Burger, who blew out his Achilles tendon earlier this week, underwent successful surgery to repair the damage on Thursday, but will miss the rest of the season. Burger, the team’s 2017 first round draft pick, suffered the injury while running to first base in a game.
-While participating in a B-game Thursday against the San Diego Padres, prospect Luis Robert was hit in the head with a tag, but was ultimately able to walk off the field under his own power.
-Welington Castillo is known for his power, but he showed off his patience at the plate on Thursday, walking three times in four plate appearances.
What’s Next:
The White Sox will be back home in Glendale on Friday as they welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers in for a showdown between Camelback Ranch’s two tenants. The Sox will put Miguel Gonzalez on the bump for the game, but the Dodgers have yet to name their starter.
Michael Kopech and Carson Fulmer will get the starts over the weekend as the Sox head to Surprise to play the Royals on Saturday, and then come home to face the Padres on Sunday.
