First things first: Munetaka Murakami is just fine. Skipper Will Venable originally had the slugger penciled in the starting lineup, but he scratched him before first pitch. That is never a sight you want to see in late February. But crisis averted. Deep breaths all around.
And while we’re here, best of luck to Mune and all the White Sox representing their countries in the World Baseball Classic. It’s going to be a blast watching them. We’ll hold down the fort.
For the Dodgers, Tyler Glasnow looked like an All-Star caliber righthander tuning up for meaningful games. He needed just two quick innings to demonstrate why he makes the big bucks. Three up, three down in the first on consecutive punchouts. Then it was on to the second, and he was equally as efficient. Edgar Quero and Curtis Mead did at least manage to put wood on the ball, but both grounders were routine.
Dave Roberts even sent Glasnow back out for the third because when you’re carving up hitters like a Thanksgiving turkey, why not? Braden Montgomery finally broke through, however, with a sharp single to left, ending Glasnow’s afternoon after 32 pitches (22 strikes, because of course).
The new offensive Sox did make that brief crack count, though. Carson Hobbs entered with one on and nobody out, and Tanner Murray, everyone’s early Cactus League folk hero, unloaded for his second bomb of the spring to knot things at 2-2. Suddenly, the dugout had a little juice.
Ryan Galanie followed with a base hit, and after Austin Hays struck out, Kyle Teel ripped a double to right. The line kept on moving with Lenyn Sosa lifting a long sacrifice fly and Quero adding an RBI single. Four runs in the frame and the Good Guys now led 4-2. Important to note, though, that before we start planning the parade, Hobbs is a 23-year-old Double-A arm. Well, at least we know these guys would be killing it if they played in Birmingham.
Sean Newcomb opened the game for the South Siders by allowing a single and a walk, and then two fly outs later, it was 1-0. In the second, Alex Call singled, Hyeseong Kim moved him over, and Miguel Rojas brought him home. Efficient and annoying. Overall, it was an afternoon of death by a thousand cuts because this is what the Dodgers do. Just little paper cuts over and over until you look down and realize you’re bleeding.
Chris Murphy took over for Newcomb in the third and watched Will Smith double, advance on a wild pitch, and score on a ground out. In the fifth, Smith went ahead and tied it himself with a solo shot because, of course, he did.
The Sox briefly reclaimed the lead in the sixth when Curtis Mead launched a two-out, nobody-on dinger to make it 5-4. A response and a punch back. I appreciate that.
And then came the Cubs assist.
Former North Sider and non-roster invitee Tyson Miller entered and immediately served up back-to-back home runs to Keston Hiura and Hyeseong Kim. Just like that, it was 6-5 Dodgers. Then, a walk, a ground out, and a single later, Los Angeles had a two-run lead. Good times. Thanks, Cubs. Miller recorded just two outs and did little to inspire confidence.
To their absolute credit, the Sox didn’t fold. This Will Venable club sure has got some fight in them, but I’m just not sure there’s quite enough talent yet.
In the eighth, Drew Romo singled, and 20-year-old prospect George Wolkow tripled off 27-year-old Kyle Hurt to trim the deficit to one. The pressure was on with just out, but Hurt buckled down, striking out Quero and Matt Hogan to escape.
Duncan Davitt entered for the Sox and quietly did his job, tossing the seventh and eighth while allowing just one hit and striking out two. It was the kind of tidy spring outing that earns a few extra looks.
In the ninth, the Sox finally drew their first walk of the afternoon to get the leadoff man aboard. Unfortunately, it lasted approximately one batter as Jacob Gonzalez rolled into a double play, and the rally was officially dead.
Eight hits. Six runs. Twelve strikeouts. Two walk. The bats are staying aggressive, but maybe it’s too aggressive. While the Sox showed some thump, they’ve got to manufacture a few more free passes and be better with RISP (only 1-for-4 again today) if they want more of these back-and-forth games to fall their way.
With the loss, Chicago drops its second straight and falls to 4-3 this spring. The Dodgers remain a perfect 6-0. The rich get richer. On to the next Spring Training marathon.