Game 1 Recap
The White Sox split their doubleheader on Thursday, kicking things off with a gritty 4-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. It wasn't all smooth sailing, but the Sox showed resilience to secure the win.
Davis Martin had a rocky start, giving up two runs in the first inning on a couple of hits and walks. But just when it seemed like things might unravel, Jairo Iriarte stepped in to calm the storm. He issued a walk but managed to strike out Kristian Robinson to close the inning.
Thanks to Spring Training rules, Martin returned for the second inning and found his rhythm. He navigated through a one-out walk and settled down, cruising through the third and fourth innings with minimal trouble.
His final line read: 4 2/3 innings, two hits, two runs, four walks, and three strikeouts. It wasn't his sharpest outing, but regrouping like that was a positive sign.
The bullpen took it from there, delivering a stellar performance. Ryan Borucki, Brandon Eisert, and Lucas Sims each handled their innings with poise, while Chase Plymell added some flair by striking out the side to seal the deal.
On the other side, former White Sox pitcher Michael Soroka was on fire. He kept the Sox bats silent, allowing just one hit and one walk over five innings while striking out eight. Whether it was a personal mission or just a great day on the mound, Soroka was dominant.
The tide turned in the sixth inning. Andrew Benintendi sparked the rally with a double, and a misplay by Jacob Amaya allowed Colson Montgomery to reach base and Benintendi to score.
Munetaka Murakami and Edgar Quero drew walks to load the bases, setting the stage for Chase Meidroth. Meidroth delivered a clutch single, driving in two runs and flipping the script to give Chicago a 3-2 lead.
The Sox added an insurance run in the eighth when Austin Hays doubled and Meidroth drove him home, extending the lead to 4-2. It wasn't the prettiest win, but the Sox showed grit and determination to come out on top.
Game 2 Recap
Game 2 had its moments but ultimately ended in a 13-6 loss for the White Sox, as a promising start unraveled into chaos.
The game began with promise. Everson Pereira led off with a single, and LaMonte Wade Jr. smashed a homer to right, quickly putting the Sox up 2-0. Derek Hill added a single, stole second, and scored on a hit by Sam Antonacci, making it 3-0 before the Padres even had a chance to bat.
Then came the first surprise: Adisyn Coffey took the mound instead of the expected starter, Jonathan Cannon. Coffey struggled, giving up three runs in the first, including a two-run homer to former teammate Gavin Sheets, who went 3-for-5 on the night.
The Sox regained the lead in the second, thanks to a misplay by Ramón Laureano that allowed Pereira to double. Tristan Peters had walked and scored on a sac fly by Miguel Vargas, putting the Sox back on top, 4-3.
Things seemed to stabilize briefly, but the fourth inning was a turning point. Ben Peoples was hit hard, allowing five singles, a walk, and an error, which quickly turned the lead into a 6-4 deficit. Peoples managed just one out before being pulled, and though Frankeli Arias stopped the bleeding, the damage was done.
The Sox showed some fight in the fifth, with Curtis Mead and Wade hitting back-to-back solo homers to tie the game at 6-6. However, the momentum didn't last.
In the eighth, Eric Adler struggled mightily, walking the bases loaded before Jake Cronenworth's double cleared them, putting the Padres up 9-6. Luke Bell then gave up a ground-rule double and a two-run homer to Ty France, sealing the Sox's fate with a seven-run inning.
The Sox couldn't muster a response in the ninth, closing out a tough loss. Despite the promising start, it was a game that slipped away, leaving the Sox to regroup for their next outing.