Dodgers 7, White Sox 6 / Athletics 6, White Sox 5
The Cactus League opener at Camelback Ranch could not have started worse, although the Dodgers’ four runs in the first came against Donn Roach, who couldn’t finish the inning. After that, Carson Fulmer walked a batter and hit another in a two-run second. When top prospect Eloy Jimenez, batting cleanup, finally came up to bat after a lengthy inning and a half, he struck out on three pitches.
Hey, it’s early!
A bunch of prospects would make it close, the Sox scoring two in the ninth on Chris Johnson’s two-out, two-run single.
“We didn’t quit,” manager Rick Renteria said, dusting off a familiar theme.
Moncada at the hot corner
Over in Mesa, Arizona, Yoan Moncada singled and doubled in his first two plate appearances and played third base for the first time in a Sox uniform, although much to his disappointment, he got no action. In other defensive news, Jimenez manned left field just fine, getting an easy putout and making a clean charge on a single to hold a runner at third. As you might recall, working on defense was a stated reason from the front office for keeping Jimenez in the minors last year. The Sox played errorless ball in both games.
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The first homer of the spring …
… went to none other than D.J. Peterson, a 27-year-old 2013 first-round draft pick with no major-league experience signed to a minor-league deal in the offseason. Peterson, who started at third base against L.A., singled in his other plate appearance. Other good stuff? Catcher Seby Zavala doubled, singled and scored two runs, and relievers Ryan Burr and Thyago Vieira each pitched two scoreless innings.
On deck
Sox at Padres, Peoria, 2:05 p.m. Sunday, Bernardo Flores vs. Jacob Nix.
