Offense Shines Again as White Sox Roll to an 8-1 Win

GLENDALE, AZ – The Chicago White Sox (1-1-1) resumed Cactus League play against former White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez, and his new club the San Diego Padres (1-3). Carlos Rodon for the White Sox, and Robbie Erlin for the Padres were the starting pitchers on the afternoon.

Carlos Rodon began his first spring start by striking out Padres center-fielder Melvin Upton, and getting right-fielder Skip Schumaker to ground out to third-basemen Todd Frazier. He finished the inning by forcing former teammate Alexei Ramirez to ground out up the middle, Jimmy Rollins made an exceptional play deep behind the second base bag, spinning and throwing out Ramirez at first base.

Adam Eaton opened the home half of the first inning with a base hit to center field, his fourth hit in as many at bats over the last two days of Cactus League play. Eaton was caught stealing second base by Padres catcher Erik Kratz.

Carlos Rodon retired the side in the second inning with ease as well, allowing a lone base hit through the hole between first, and second base to Padres designated hitter Rocky Gale.

Todd Frazier led off the bottom of the second inning with a double that bounced off of the left-center field wall. Frazier advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Melky Cabrera, and scored on an RBI sac-fly off of the bat of White Sox shortstop Jimmy Rollins to give the Sox a 1-0 lead after two innings.

A one out walk was all that Rodon would allow in his third inning of work, as he pitched around it retiring the side on a pop out, ground out, and strike out. Rodon threw three innings allowing no runs, a base hit, a walk, and struck out two hitters. He left the game in line for the win after three.

The White Sox threatened in the bottom of the third, catcher Alex Avila walked to lead off the frame, and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Jacob May. A wild pitch by Padres pitcher Cesar Vargas put Avila at third with one out. Adam Eaton grounded out to the second basemen Alexi Amarista, and Brett Lawrie struck out looking to end the inning. The White Sox led the Padres 1-0 heading into the fourth inning.

Matt Albers tossed a scoreless fourth inning in relief of Carlos Rodon. In the bottom of the fourth inning Jose Abreu, and Todd Frazier hit back-to-back solo home runs off of Padres pitcher Cesar Vargas, giving the White Sox a 3-0 lead heading into the fifth inning. The home runs by Abreu, and Frazier were the sixth, and seventh home runs for the White Sox this spring.

White Sox reliever Zach Duke breezed through the fifth inning retiring the Padres hitters 1-2-3.

Jake Petricka retired the first two Padres hitters in the top of the sixth inning before allowing a base hit to Alexei Ramirez, and a walk to Wil Myers. Rocky Gale, who was 2-2 with two base hits up to that point, was called out on strikes ending the threat by the Padres.

Padres catcher Erik Kratz took White Sox reliever Zach Putnam deep for a solo home run to start the seventh inning for the Padres cutting the White Sox lead down to 3-1. Padres infielder Jose Pirela followed that up with a long double to the center field wall over the head of Jacob May. Putnam walked Padres third-basemen Ryan Schimpf giving the Padres runners at first, and second with no outs. Carlos Asuaje moved laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving Pirela, and Schimpf over to second, and third base with one out. Putnam struck out Padres outfielder Michael Gettys, before he was pulled by Manager Robin Ventura in favor of reliever Dan Jennings who induced a ground out to end the inning. The White Sox led 3-1 at the seventh inning stretch in Glendale.

The White Sox answered in the bottom of the seventh inning, with a pair of runs of their own. Avisail Garcia singled up the middle, and Alex Avila walked setting up runners at first, and second with one out. Jason Coats, and Adam Engel entered the game as pinch runners for Garcia, and Avila. Center-fielder Jacob May doubled down the left field line, driving in both Coats, and Engel giving the White Sox a 5-1 lead. On the next at bat Jacob May stole third base, but was stranded there after Padres reliever Blake Smith struck out both Daniel Fields, and Travis Ishikawa to end the inning.

The White Sox added onto their lead in the bottom of the eighth inning again, as Leury Garcia singled to lead off the inning. Jerry Sands reached on a fielders choice, and an error on the third-basemen. Carlos Sanchez then drove a fly ball deep to right field, bouncing off of the warning track, and over the fence for a ground rule double driving in Leury Garcia. Catcher Kevan Smith added another ground rule double, this one over the left field fence, scoring both Jerry Sands, and Carlos Sanchez. The White Sox led the Padres 8-1 heading into the ninth inning.

Daniel Webb retired the Padres in order in the top of the ninth inning to give the White Sox  the 8-1 victory over the Padres on the afternoon.

Notables:

• Carlos Rodon: 3.0 IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 2K, 0.00 ERA
• Todd Frazier: 2-3, 2B, HR, RBI, R
• Jose Abreu: 2-3, 1B, HR, RBI
• Jacob May: 1-2, 2B, 2 RBI, SB