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No highlights, no photos, no video.
Wait, excuse me, no official video. But we’ve got SSS fam and SSHP writer/photographer Sean Williams on the scene. His clips can mostly tell the tale of this one.
The batting title champ picking up right where he left off with a single in his first AB #WhiteSox #SpringTraining pic.twitter.com/w7UZM3wUtR
— Sean Williams (@Sean_W10) February 23, 2020
First at-bat of the White Sox season? A Tim Anderson infield single, flashing some legs to beat out the Baltimore Chop.
Nomar Mazara almost dropped this one in shallow center, but Dietrich made a leaping grab to steal a hit. pic.twitter.com/76y7stW5J2
— Sean Williams (@Sean_W10) February 23, 2020
Luis Robert got all of this one, unfortunately it was a lineout #WhiteSox #SpringTraining pic.twitter.com/dfY3nqheCG
— Sean Williams (@Sean_W10) February 23, 2020
Matt Davidson robs Yoan Moncada of a hit. Smh. pic.twitter.com/OgWZGgxQI1
— Sean Williams (@Sean_W10) February 23, 2020
The game was tied scoreless through four, with the biggest jam coming in the fourth inning. Carson Fulmer, who entered in the third and whiffed his first two batters before succumbing to control problems (two walks), got off to a Fulmeresque start in the fourth, hitting ex-White Sox and current Reds first baseman Matt Davidson with a pitch, driving him out of the game, and walking Scott Schebler before getting yanked. Fulmer’s line, scarring what was otherwise a pretty aces day for White Sox pitching: 1 IP, 3 BB, 2 K, HBP.
There were zero earned runs placed on Fulmer’s tab because Matt Foster wriggled out of the two-on, no-out jam with a fly out and ground out.
Matt Foster gets out of the jam. Here he gets Akiyama to ground into force out for the second out of the inning. McCann gunned down Akiyama trying to steal for the third out #WhiteSox #SpringTraining pic.twitter.com/rhD9q2qKEe
— Sean Williams (@Sean_W10) February 23, 2020
As Sean says, McCannon gunned down a runner to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.
Natch, leading off the next inning was Jame McCann, doubling and scoring on a Leury García single, for the first White Sox tally of the season.
Leury Garcia drives in McCann, giving the #WhiteSox a 1-0 lead pic.twitter.com/4xssNL4XTc
— Sean Williams (@Sean_W10) February 23, 2020
The runners moving up on a throw (some pretty aggressive cleverness from Leury there) set the stage for a ho-hum ribbie from TA.
Tim Anderson drives in Delmonico on a grounder, making it a 2-0 game in the 5th #WhiteSox #SpringTraining pic.twitter.com/gy52RmOQ2n
— Sean Williams (@Sean_W10) February 23, 2020
With Seby Zavala the least sexy (but most competent) third catcher candidate in camp, he definitely served notice on his competition with a big fly in the seventh inning.
Seby Zavala goes deep to make it a 3-0 game in the top of the 7th #WhiteSox #SpringTraining pic.twitter.com/xB0NXkxPpC
— Sean Williams (@Sean_W10) February 23, 2020
Seby Zavala’s at-bat where he homered was by far the best one of the day and I’m not just saying that because of the end result. He was patient, laid off outside junk, and unloaded on the ball when he got his pitch.
— Sean Williams (@Sean_W10) February 23, 2020
And just for kicks, the White Sox continued to rally late, scoring four runs in the top of the ninth, courtesy of some chip shots and booted balls by Cincy. The entire inning was kicked off by a welcome scene, easy power from Micker Adolfo. Watch to the end for the ridiculous late-decision flop slide from Micker (cue: nerves).
Micker Adolfo sends one into left field for a double. He was down 0-2 and battled back. Solid AB for Adolfo #WhiteSox #SpringTraining pic.twitter.com/AycQOO9AX4
— Sean Williams (@Sean_W10) February 23, 2020
Micker in fact came up again in the ninth, as the Pale Hose batted around, but with the sacks packed, Aldofo grounded out.
Besides Fulmer being Fulmer, the only White Sox hurler to get touched up was Matt Tomshaw, who fed a gopher ball to Stuart Fairchild for Cincinnati’s only runs of the game, in the eighth. Dylan Cease, Foster, José Ruiz, Tomshaw and Tyler Johnson combined for seven hits, two earned, two walks and six Ks over eight innings.
The only other notable involved Gold Glove second baseman Nick Madrigal making his first error of the spring, but he later singled in Luis Basabe as part of that four-run ninth to complete a 1-for-2 day.
Poll
Who is the White Sox player of the game?
This poll is closed
-
32%
Dylan Cease (2 IP, 3 H, 3K)
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21%
Matt Foster (2 IP, H, K, win, inherited fourth-inning jam)
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1%
Leury García (1-for-2, 1B, R, GWRBI)
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10%
James McCann (1-for-2, CS to end 4th, 2B, R)
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33%
Seby Zavala (1-for-2, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI)
The 1-0 White Sox “visit” Los Angeles at Camelback Ranch tomorrow for the first NBC Sports broadcast of the spring.
I’ll be talking to our videographer today, Sean Williams, for the next SSHP podcast, due out late tonight/tomorrow a.m., so stay tuned for more on today’s nice win.