White Sox held to four hits in loss to Dodgers

SHARE White Sox held to four hits in loss to Dodgers
dodgers_white_sox_baseball.jpg

White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson (7) forces out Los Angeles Dodgers’ Daniel Castro (9) at second base on a double play hit by Joe Pederson in the third inning of a spring training baseball game Saturday, March 16, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

GLENDALE, Ariz.

Dodgers 2, White Sox 0

Offense stymied

The Sox (7-12-2) entered the game ranked second in the Cactus League in batting average (.284) and sixth in OPS (.822) and runs (133), but Dodgers prospect Tony Gonsolin preserved his 0.00 spring ERA with three innings and Kelsey Jansen, Joe Kelley and the rest of the pen were more than a Sox lineup resembling an Opening Day look could handle. The Sox were held to four hits, two by Leury Garcia (.384), and struck out 10 times before their second sellout crowd in two days at Camelback Ranch in Glendale (also Cubs on Friday).

Nova cuts to the chase

Veteran right-hander Ivan Nova unveiled a cutter he hasn’t used since he had Tommy John surgery in 2014, and though he allowed a homer to Clint Barnes with it, declared it a useful addition to his arsenal. Nova said he’s ready for the season to begin after giving up two runs, four hits and no walks with three strikeouts in 4⅓ innings. Both runs came on the homer.

RELATED

White Sox prospect Eloy Jimenez felt pressure, ‘tried to do too much’

Giolito allows 4 runs early, Jones gives up 3 late in White Sox’ loss to Cubs

“Oh, yeah,’’ Nova said when asked if he’s ready for the season, which begins March 28 in Kansas City. “I can’t wait. I’ve got two [starts] before the beginning of the season, and I’m ready to go.”

How do you know?

“When you’re executing the way you’re supposed to.”

Relief!

After Nova, seven Sox relievers combined for 4⅓ innings of scoreless, one-hit ball, including recent waiver-claim lefty Josh Osich, who struck out Edwin Rios in his first appearance. Kelvin Herrera touched 95 mph in his perfect inning, which included a strikeout, and Carson Fulmer (who likely will begin the season at Class AAA Charlotte) gave up a hit and a walk but struck out the side in the ninth.

On deck

Sox at Diamondbacks, Scottsdale, 3:10 p.m., 720-AM, Carlos Rodon vs. Zack Greinke.


The Latest
The man was shot in the left eye area in the 5700 block of South Christiana Avenue on the city’s Southwest Side.
Most women who seek abortions are women of color, especially Black women. Restricting access to mifepristone, as a case now before the Supreme Court seeks to do, would worsen racial health disparities.
The Bears have spent months studying the draft. They’ll spend the next one plotting what could happen.
Woman is getting anxious about how often she has to host her husband’s hunting buddy and his wife, who don’t contribute at all to mealtimes.
He launched a campaign against a proposed neo-Nazis march at a time the suburb was home to many Holocaust survivors. His rabbi at Skokie Central Congregation urged Jews to ignore the Nazis. “I jumped up and said, ‘No, Rabbi. We will not stay home and close the windows.’ ”