The Chicago White Sox secured a 6-4 victory over the Athletics at Camelback Ranch on Tuesday in spring training action. Andrew Benintendi paced the offense, going 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, Anthony Kay turned in a solid outing, working 4.2 innings of 1-run ball with five strikeouts. The Sox finished with 9 hits on the day while holding the Athletics to 6. It was an encouraging performance for the Sox as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Andrew Benintendi was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Sox offense.
Chase Meidroth also contributed, going 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI, Munetaka Murakami chipped in, going 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI, and Austin Hays added to the attack, going 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Shane McGuire led the Athletics offense with a 1-for-1 with a home run and two RBI day. Andy Ibáñez also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. Nick Kurtz added a 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Sox pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Anthony Kay earned the win after pitching effectively, working 4.2 innings while allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits with five strikeouts. He threw 66 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 4.1 innings of work, allowing 3 earned runs while striking out three. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations. Chris Murphy recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Jedixson Paez stood out with 2.1 innings of 1-run work, striking out three. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
The Sox struck first, pushing across five runs in the third inning. Athletics struck back with two runs in the fifth. The Sox answered with a run in the fifth. Athletics responded with two runs in the eighth. The Sox out-hit Athletics 9-6 on the day, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 6,325 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Sox, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Sox are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.
