White Sox build a snowman in the fourth to win, 8-7

Wow.

This was a game we’ve seen many times over the past couple of seasons — only with the White Sox playing the Angels’ role today: Early hole dug (6-0 through three), massive comeback to reverse fortunes.

So yes, it was time for the White Sox to play the role of big bully, just toying with an opponent. And it didn’t feel too bad at all.

After falling behind 6-0 courtesy of an atrocious Ross Detwiler start against the Angels big bats, the White Sox struck back, bigtime: Eight runs in the fourth inning. A stellar finish by the bullpen (6 ⅔ innings, two hits, one earned, two walks, nine Ks) made those eight runs hold.

The White Sox scoring started with a familiar face, With one out, Yermín Mercedes clocked a double deep in the power alley in right field, scoring Nomar Mazara all the way from first.

Nicky Delmonico and Cheslor Cuthbert hit successive doubles to then cut the deficit to 6-3. Walks to Luis González and Andrew Romine packed the sacks, and up walked Cactus League MVP Always and Forever Adam Engel.

Engel went down on one knee to reach out and poke a grounder into left field, scoring two to cut the Angels lead to one. Nick Madrigal then knocked pitcher Neil Ramirez from the box (having recorded just one out) with a single to tie the game.

But the White Sox didn’t stop there. Andrew Vaughn gave the White Sox the lead despite making his second out of the inning (he popped out to lead off the fourth), driving in Engel from third with a ground out.

And to top things off, Mazara doinked a single to left for his first White Sox RBI, scoring Madrigal and finishing off Ramirez’s table at eight earned against one out.

Madrigal also had a key defensive play in the second inning, stopping an Angels rally with an assist at home plate (to be fair, Madrigal’s throw was a flat-footed, two-hopper from short center field, and it was Mercedes who made the heroic reach and swipe tag to end the inning):

So, we’ve got the batting and fielding heroes down, let’s talk about that killer bullpen effort, as six Pale Hose pitchers came on after Detwiler and just killed it. Only Ian Hamilton (terrible fielding play, two wild pitches) gave up a run, and that was off of just one single. Will Kincanon created some traffic (a hit and a walk getting two outs in relief of Detwiler in the third), but otherwise everyone else was aces.

And the end was the very best, as Bernardo Flores Jr. took the seventh and eighth and was perfect, with four Ks. Vince Arobio earned the save with a strong ninth: one walk, three Ks.

Dallas Keuchel is scheduled to make his spring debut tomorrow at the San Diego Padres. Game time is 2:05 CT, and WhiteSox.com provides the webcast. Brett’s on your SSS coverage.