SOX 6, PADRES 0
SOX 5, ROYALS 4
Crisp second start for Lopez
Utilizing a new wrinkle at the behest of catcher Yasmani Grandal — throwing two sliders at varying speeds — right-hander Reynaldo Lopez struck out five Padres and walked none over 4 1⁄3 scoreless innings against the Padres in his second start Sunday in Peoria, Ariz. Lopez allowed five hits, all singles. Grandal cited Lopez’ fastball command and use of a wide array of pitches.
“Hopefully he feels pretty good about it,” Grandal said. “He’s coming along. [Right-hander Dylan] Cease is coming along as well. Those two are going to be huge for us.”
Lopez, who struck out Manny Machado with a slider in the first, noticed on video he was “a little quick with my mechanics” and adjusted.
South Side Hit Men
The Sox (10-6-1) clubbed four homers, infielder Cheslor Cuthbert’s second and third of the spring, the third of the spring by catcher Yermin Mercedes and catcher Zack Collins’ second. Mercedes, trying to snag a roster spot as the 26th man, has a 1.230 OPS.
Eyes on Fulmer, Burdi
Former first-rounders Zack Burdi and Carson Fulmer were good again, Burdi with his fourth scoreless appearance, a perfect eighth with no strikeouts; and Fulmer (2.25 ERA in six appearances) striking out both batters he faced, Abraham Almonte and Tommy Pham. Jacob Lindgren struck out two in a perfect ninth to earn a save against the Royals, his fourth scoreless outing.
Grandal’s calf improving
Grandal caught five innings and said the calf strain he has recovered from felt good when he legged out an RBI double in the gap. “Feet seem like they’re starting to get underneath me,” Grandal said. “It might have been the new cleats I wore. Just felt like they were slightly lighter.”
On deck
Reds at Sox, Glendale, 3:05 p.m. Monday, whitesox.com, AM-720, Andy DeSclafini vs. Dylan Cease. Steve Cishek, Jimmy Cordero, Kelvin Herrera, Aaron Bummer and Evan Marshall also scheduled to pitch.
