A couple of notes ahead of the recap, first — today’s transactions:
Brooke Fletcher helped break down today’s moves with insight as to where some players will land to start the season.
With very little action in the first, Lenyn Sosa picked up a walk in the second, but the White Sox failed to do anything. Josh Jung tripled in the bottom of the second and crossed the plate when Danny Jansen doubled, putting the Rangers on the board.
In the top of the third, Tristan Peters was hit by a pitch, and with one out, Derek Hill singled on a bunt. With two outs, Everson Pereira drew a walk to load the bases for Jarred Kelenic, prompting a pitching change for the Rangers. Josh Hejka stepped in. Naturally, Kelenic grounded out to end the inning.
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In the fourth, LaMonte Wade Jr. picked up a four-pitch walk with one out and stole both second and third, but was caught in a rundown on Curtis Mead’s grounder. Mead made it to second base on the rundown and got to third on a wild pitch, but it was all in vain when Korey Lee struck out.
After giving up a walk and hit by pitch in the bottom of the fifth, Sean Burke was pulled and replaced by Ben Peoples. Thankfully, Peoples got Jake Burger to line out and end the inning. After giving up that run in the first, Burke settled down pretty well, going 4 ⅔ innings with three hits, three walks and four Ks.
[Quick World Baseball Classic update: Sam Antonacci showed off his White Sox skill set by leaving the bases loaded for Italy while watching his third strike fly by in the sixth inning.]
Back to Arizona, where Jordan Leasure came in to face the Rangers in the bottom of the seventh and immediately gave up a double to Ezequiel Duran. With one out between plays, Wyatt Langford walked, putting runners in the corners. Burger ended the threat after being called out on strikes.
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In the mix of the inning, there was a really great catch from Hill:
In the eighth Alejandro Osuna singled with one out, and Cooper Johnson picked up a walk. Jansen managed his second RBI double of the night, making it 3-0. Those two insurance runs would loom large in mere minutes …
… because just as I was writing the team off with a funny comparison of cold bats and the city of Chicago’s cold front, the White Sox scored two late runs. Dustin Harris hit a one-out double, and Oliver Dunn brought him in with a home run to make it 3-2.
Alas, the ninth-inning rally would be fruitless after William Bergolla Jr. lined out, and Lee struck out swinging. Lee would end up with a golden sombrero, whiffing all four times up to the plate. Come back soon, Kyle Teel!
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