Yermin Mercedes’ monster home run highlights White Sox’ 2-2 tie against Dodgers

SOX 2, DODGERS 2

All tied up

Cody Thomas and Omar Estevez homered against White Sox right-hander Ian Hamilton in the sixth inning and Thomas took a home run away from Blake Rutherford with a leaping catch, but there was no stopping a tape-measure homer by Class AAA Charlotte catcher Yermin Mercedes in the seventh. Mercedes’ blast landed on the concourse beyond the left-field fence.

Matt Skole tied the score with an RBI double in the ninth, Nicky Delmonico was 3-for-3 with two doubles, No. 3 overall draft pick Andrew Vaughn doubled off the center-field wall and shortstop Danny Mendick made an over-the-shoulder catch in short left field to save a run. The Sox are 1-0-1.

Mercedes goes way deep

Mercedes, whose swings are ordered off the ‘‘hard, harder, hardest’’ menu, homered against Parker Curry, then singled in the ninth. A minor-league selection in the Rule 5 draft in 2017, Mercedes batted .310/.386/.647 with 17 homers in 53 games last season at Charlotte. He could build a long-shot case for the final roster spot with a strong spring.

It was there for all to see

This was the Sox’ first televised spring game on NBC Sports Chicago and the last until March 13, when they play the Cubs. Only six games are scheduled on the team’s exclusive station, which has become a source of complaints for fans wanting to see more of what should be an improved team. By the luck of the draw, the game Monday featured one player — Edwin Encarnacion — who likely will be in the Opening Day lineup, although first-round draft picks Zack Collins, Nick Madrigal and Vaughn started.

On deck

Giants at Sox (split squad), Glendale, 2:05 p.m. Tuesday, whitesox.com, Kevin Gausman vs. Drew Anderson; Sox (split squad) at Indians, Goodyear, 2:05 p.m. Tuesday, Bernardo Flores vs. Shane Bieber.