White Sox 4, Cubs 4: Jiménez, Cease shine

In a matchup between crosstown rivals, both teams started a pitcher who is projected to begin the season in the starting rotation. Dylan Cease, who is looking for a breakout season, started for the White Sox, while Alec Mills started for the Cubs. The White Sox jumped out to an early lead, but the Cubs clawed back into it, and this one ended in a 4-4 tie.

The White Sox got started quite early on offense, starting their first rally with one out in the bottom of the first. Adam Eaton led off that half of the inning with a ground out, but the next four White Sox reached base safely. Yasmani Grandal started the rally by hitting an infield single. Alec Mills then issued back-to-back walks to José Abreu and Yoán Moncada. That loaded the bases for Eloy Jiménez, who drove in a pair with a single to center.

In the bottom of the third, Jiménez had an opportunity to add to his RBI total, and he delivered an insurance run. With two outs and runners on first and second, Jiménez hit another clutch single to make it 3-0.

On the other side of the ball, Dylan Cease took care of business early. In three innings of work, Cease only allowed one baserunner, a single to Eric Sogard. Cease’s final line: three innings, no runs, one hit, no walks, two strikeouts. It is quite safe to say that Cease’s first Cactus League appearance was a success.

The White Sox ran into trouble in the fourth, when Jonathan Stiever took over on the mound. With one out, Joc Pederson walked, and Cameron Maybin singled. The Cubs got on the board when Jake Marisnick hit an RBI single, and David Bote’s double made it 3-2. Stiever did recover, however, and he pitched scoreless fifth and sixth innings to keep the South Siders in front.

The teams traded runs in the seventh, when fireballer Garrett Crochet took over on the mound. Bote built on his big day with another double, and he scored on a single by Alfonso Rivas. Crochet only pitched one inning, so it was not a great day for him, but his Cactus League ERA remains strong (2.25).

In the bottom of the seventh, though, an Andrew Vaughn single set Abreu up for an RBI opportunity, putting runners on the corners with only one out. Abreu delivered, with a clutch single to put the White Sox back in front. It was an excellent day for Abreu, who reached base every plate appearance (2-for-2, two walks).

In the eighth, Michael Kopech took over on the mound, and he promptly retired the first two he faced. After a single and a hit by pitch, Kopech escaped trouble with his second strikeout of the inning to preserve the lead.

Liam Hendriks took over in the ninth, but unfortunately, he did not earn the save. Hendriks struck out the first batter of the inning, but he then allowed a game-tying home run to Patrick Wisdom. The White Sox nearly walked it off in the bottom half (runners on the corners, one out), but Blake Rutherford grounded into a double play to end the threat.

The White Sox are now 3-8-4 this spring, while the Cubs are 7-5-3. The South Siders will play again tomorrow against the Padres at 3:10 p.m. CST. MLB Network is scheduled to televise it, and Tommy Barbee provides your SSS coverage.