Danks fans seven, White Sox beat Cubs 3-2
Final. 2. 9. 3. 128
GLENDALE, AZ – The Chicago White Sox took on their crosstown rival the Chicago Cubs on Friday afternoon at Camelback Ranch. John Danks made his fourth start of the spring for the White Sox, and was opposed by Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks.
John Danks had everything working on the afternoon, for the first time this spring he was commanding the strike zone with ease. Danks was able to effectively utilize his changeup as a strike out pitch as a result of his ability to work the outside of the plate with his fastball.
Danks threw five innings, holding the Cubs scoreless through all five. The Cubs were only able to manage a lone base hit against Danks, while seven Cubs hitters were sat down on strikes on the afternoon.
Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks was impressive as well on Friday, throwing five innings while surrendering just one run on two hits to the White Sox.
In the bottom of the third inning White Sox first-baseman Travis Ishikawa doubled to right field, and advanced to third on base hit by catcher Alex Avila. The single to right field was the first of the spring for the new White Sox catcher Alex Avila. Austin Jackson broke the tie by driving in Ishikawa on a sacrifice fly to center field giving the White Sox a 1-0 lead after three innings.
David Robertson, and Matt Albers retired the Cubs in order in the sixth and seventh inning, striking out three of the six batters that they faced.
In the bottom of the seventh inning Jose Abreu drew a lead off walk from Cubs reliever Travis Wood, Todd Frazier followed that with a line drive base hit to left field. Jerry Sands, and Matt Davidson ran for Abreu, and Frazier respectively. Melky Cabrera reached on an infield single setting the White Sox up with a bases loaded, nobody out situation. Red hot Avisail Garcia singled into left field, driving in Jerry Sands, extending the Sox lead to 2-0. The White Sox tacked on one more run via a Tim Anderson sacrifice fly to deep center-field pushing the lead to 3-0.
A pair of errors, and a passed ball netted the Cubs their only two runs of the game in the top half of the eighth inning.
White Sox reliever Nate Jones pitched a scoreless ninth inning to secure a 3-2 victory for the White Sox over the crosstown rival Cubs.
The White Sox take on the Los Angeles Dodgers tomorrow afternoon at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. Chris Sale will make his first Cactus League start versus Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw at 3:05 pm (CT). Catch all the action on CSN Chicago with Jason Benetti, and Steve Stone.