It was a doozy Spring Training game on Tuesday in Peoria, Arizona, as the offenses of both the White Sox (4-1) and Seattle Mariners (2-3) exploded for 28 hits as the South Siders held on to earn their fourth win. Both pitching staffs limped through the nine innings, with 19 pitchers appearing by both teams; eight for Chicago and 11 for Seattle. Mariners pitchers walked fewer batters — six compared to the Good Guys’ nine — but the Sox struck out 12, while the M’s managed just five K’s across the board.
Lefthander Anthony Kay made his debut with Chicago since joining the team last season and overcame a shaky start. The left-hander stumbled early, loading the bases with a hit, a walk and a hit batter to open the first frame. The only run he gave up came to Josh Naylor, who drove in a run while driving into a double play. However, Kay was able to regain control and retired Randy Arozarena to get out of the first. He carried that momentum into the second, finishing his day with two walks, two Ks and 25 of 45 pitches (55%) thrown for strikes.
The South Siders had taken a one-run lead on a Lenyn Sosa double in the first inning, although the Naylor RBI brought the game back to within one run. Reader, this would be neither the first nor the last lead change of the day, as you might imagine in such a high-scoring, borderline chaotic game.
Including Kay, five of the eight South Side pitchers allowed at least one run, and all but Chase Plymell and Zach Franklin allowed at least one hit. In addition to the box score mess, the White Sox recorded not one, but two blown saves and still somehow managed to get the win, likely thanks to the help of Seattle who also made a save after taking the lead in the sixth.
With his first home run of the spring, shortstop Tanner Murray brought a two-run lead back to the Good Guys. Murray was outstanding Tuesday as he went 2-for-3 with two extra base hits (a home run and a double) and posted a quarter of Chicago’s RBIs (three).
Derek Hill sparked a three-run fourth with a leadoff triple, immediately followed by a Brooks Baldwin RBI double down the right field line. Edgar Quero capped the rally with a runscoring single, pushing the Chicago lead to 6-3. Curtis Mead was solid at first this afternoon, making hard, solid contact and going 2-for-4. His RBI single in the fourth was 110 mph, but Mead was also responsible for the hardest-hit ball of the day, as his grounder in the fifth left the bat at 110.4 mph. More of this, please.
Of the South Siders’ 16 hits, six were for extra bases: four doubles, a triple and a home run. Murray led the team by driving in three, but the bench also provided some late-game pop. Mario Camilletti and Oliver Dunn combined to go 3-for-4 with four RBIs after entering the game in the sixth inning, helping lead the Sox to a win.
Luckily the attack was there to support the defense because, as we know, the armory was a bit rusty. The lead evaporated in the third when Wikelman González came in and surrendered a two-run tank to Cal Raleigh. The 2025 home run king’s blast earned González a huge save to bring the score to three. Unfortunately for everyone, things got much worse before they got better.
Chicago’s pitching staff struggled to find the zone; after González’s two walks, three additional relievers surrendered five more. The collapse culminated in the fifth, when Jairo Iriarte walked three consecutive batters, all of whom eventually scored to tie the game at eight. Chase Plymell came in to replace, and due to a throwing error by Edgar Quero, Plymell was awarded the second save, despite not being in that situation without the chaos that preceded him.
Ironically, lefthander Tyler Schweitzer was ultimately awarded the win even after giving up two more runs on four hits – certainly not his best performance, but apparently not the worst of the day either. The final two innings provided a somewhat normal feeling as Adisyn Coffey and Franklin were able to stave off the Mariners one last time. Each struck out one batter, and Coffey allowed just one hit.
It’s been a whirlwind of a game, but everyone is just getting going and working on different mechanics or certain aspects of their games in preparation for the upcoming season. While wins don’t really matter in Spring Training, it’s certainly nice to see a more lopsided win column. The fun continues on Wednesday against Cincinnati Reds home at Camelback Ranch with righthander Davis Martin expected to make the start.
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