The White Sox suffered their most lopsided loss of spring training Tuesday, falling 10-0 to the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park as Sandy Alcantara threw a complete-game shutout and the Sox offense managed just three measly hits. While it's still March baseball, getting blanked this thoroughly raises real questions about the depth of this lineup heading into the regular season.
Alcantara Dominates Sox Hitters
Sandy Alcantara looked every bit the Cy Young winner he was in 2022, carving through the Sox lineup with surgical precision. The right-hander went the distance, allowing just three hits while striking out seven and walking nobody across nine innings. Alcantara's command was flawless, throwing strikes when he needed to and keeping Sox hitters off balance with his trademark sinker-slider combination.
The performance served as a stark reminder of what elite pitching looks like – something the Sox will face plenty of in the American League Central with arms like Shane Bieber and Joe Ryan lurking in the division.
Smith Struggles in Rough Outing
Shane Smith's bid for a rotation spot took a serious hit as the right-hander got shellacked for seven earned runs on eight hits across three innings. Smith walked two and struck out just one, never establishing command of the strike zone as the Marlins jumped on him early and often.
The damage came fast and furious against Smith, who simply couldn't locate his fastball or get his secondary pitches over for strikes. With roster spots still up for grabs, performances like this one can derail a player's entire season before it starts.
Marlins Offense Erupts
Miami's lineup put on a clinic, led by Liam Hicks' monster 3-for-4 performance that included a home run and four RBIs. Otto Lopez added his own solo shot while going 2-for-4, and Javier Sanoja chipped in two hits and two RBIs. Even Graham Pauley got in on the action with a pair of hits.
The Marlins collected 12 hits total, working deep counts and making Sox pitchers throw strikes. It was the kind of professional at-bat approach that championship teams display – take what the pitcher gives you and don't miss your pitch when you get it.
Bullpen Shows Mixed Results
After Smith's early exit, the Sox bullpen provided a mixed bag of results. Lucas Sims turned in two clean innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out one. Chris Murphy followed with two innings of his own, surrendering one run on three hits with three strikeouts. Jordan Leasure closed it out with one inning, giving up one run on one hit.
While the relievers performed better than Smith, the damage was already done. In a game that was over by the third inning, the focus shifted to getting work and finding positives where possible.
What's Next
The Sox need to flush this one quickly and get back to work. Spring training is about preparation and evaluation, but getting dominated like this – especially by the pitching staff – highlights areas that need immediate attention before Opening Day arrives.
The good news? It's still March, and these games don't count in the standings. The concerning news? The regular season starts in less than four weeks, and performances like this suggest there's still plenty of work to be done.
