Spring Training might be winding down, but the action on the field still had plenty to offer. Sean Burke wrapped up his final tune-up before stepping into his role as the “Day After Opening Day Starter.”
He delivered a solid performance, allowing just two runs over five innings. However, his efforts weren’t enough to overcome the formidable pitching of the defending AL West champs, leaving him with a tough-luck loss.
Burke's outing featured six strikeouts, though his fastball velocity dipped to just above 92 mph, down from the 94-95 mph range he maintained throughout spring. It's possible the sophomore right-hander was conserving energy for his upcoming regular season start.
Nevertheless, this is something to monitor as the season unfolds. One of the runs he allowed came from a high fastball to Mitch Garver, who capitalized on the slower pitch.
On the flip side, Bryan Woo brought the heat, quite literally. After giving up a double to Andrew Benintendi at the start, Woo retired the next 16 Sox hitters, striking out four. His fastball reached 97 mph, and he kept the average exit velocity down to 84 mph, showcasing his dominance on the mound.
Chris Murphy followed Burke with a scoreless sixth inning, likely his last before making his major league roster debut. Reese McGuire finally broke through Woo’s dominance with a double, setting the stage for Chase Meidroth to drive in a run with a well-placed hit.
Andrés Muñoz then took over, effectively shutting down the Sox bats. As the game progressed, it seemed both teams were ready to head home.
Lucas Sims and Chase Plymell took the mound for the Sox in the seventh and eighth, with Sims performing well, while Plymell allowed the Mariners to extend their lead. Riley Gowens closed out the ninth with a scoreless inning, possibly his last before heading to Charlotte for regular bullpen duties.
The Sox managed to claw back a run in the eighth thanks to a solo homer from McGuire, who seemed to relish being back in action. In the ninth, Seattle turned to Cooper Criswell, who nearly let the Sox spark a comeback after a bloop single from Rikuu Nishida loaded the bases. However, Criswell shut the door, leaving the Sox at .500 for the spring.
With one last chance to end on a high note, the Sox will face the Athletics tomorrow in Mesa. Anthony Kay is set to take the mound, gearing up for his return to the big leagues.
First pitch is at 2 p.m. CT, and it promises to be an exciting conclusion to Spring Training.