Baseball is back, and the White Sox wasted no time making a statement in their Cactus League opener. With an 8-1 victory over the Cubs at Sloan Park, the South Siders showed they're ready to roll, delivering a performance that was more about the scoreboard than just the joy of the game’s return.
The White Sox lineup was relentless, racking up 12 hits, including six for extra bases. Austin Hays made an immediate impact in his first appearance, launching a homer that set the tone for the day. It was a powerful shot to left field, clocking in at 105.6 mph, and it signaled that Hays is ready to make his mark.
Jonathan Cannon took the mound for the White Sox and, despite a challenging start where he threw 41 pitches over five outs, he showed promise with three strikeouts. After surrendering a homer to Seiya Suzuki, the White Sox offense took over.
Derek Hill kicked off his solid day with a walk, setting the stage for Sam Antonacci, who crushed a fastball for a two-run homer. Korey Lee added to the momentum with a single and a stolen base, eventually scoring on a Tristan Peters hit.
The action didn’t stop there. Munetaka Murakami stepped up with the bases loaded and delivered a double off the center field wall, a hit that could have been a grand slam in many ballparks. His two hits were a showcase of power, registering 108.3 and 105.5 mph off the bat.
As the game moved into the later innings, William Bergolla Jr. and Braden Montgomery kept the pressure on. Bergolla smacked a double in the sixth and another in the eighth, scoring the final run for the White Sox. Montgomery’s speed was on full display with a thrilling standup triple, driving in Darren Baker and leaving fans buzzing.
It was a fantastic start for the White Sox, who now look ahead to their Camelback Ranch opener against the A’s. If this game is any indication, the South Siders are ready to make waves this spring.