White Sox defeat Reds in Cactus League opener

SOX 7, REDS 2

Off to a good start

Dylan Cease looked sharp with three strikeouts in two scoreless innings, catcher Seby Zavala homered to right-center field and had two RBI and Leury Garcia, Tim Anderson, Nick Madrigal and Danny Mendick each drove in a run in the White Sox’ Cactus League opener Sunday. Three unearned runs in a four-run ninth put this one away. Aside from catcher Yasmani Grandal and designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion sitting out, manager Rick Renteria played what might be his Opening Day lineup for the first half of the game. Anderson, Yoan Moncada, Jose Abreu, Nomar Mazara, Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert were a combined 1-for-15.

In the field

Top second-base prospect Madrigal made an error on a ground ball ranging to his left and one-hopped a relay on a potential double-play ball. Jimenez, demonstrating more authority in left field — he’s not a rookie anymore — emphatically called off Anderson on a pop-up behind shortstop. Catcher James McCann threw out Shogo Akiyama to end the Reds’ fourth inning (second baseman Garcia made a quick tag), then doubled leading off the fifth and scored the first run of the game on a single by Garcia.

Pen-manship

Prospects Matt Foster (two scoreless innings) and Tyler Johnson (perfect ninth with two strikeouts) looked crisp in their first Cactus League appearances, and 2019 bullpen contributor Jose Ruiz turned in two scoreless innings despite allowing two walks. He helped his own cause with a good stop on a sharp comebacker that turned into a rundown out between third and home.

On deck

Sox at Dodgers, Glendale, 2:05 p.m. Monday, NBCSCH, Alex McRae vs. Ross Stripling. Also scheduled to pitch are Evan Marshall, Jacob Lindgren, Codi Heuer, Adalberto Mejia and Ian Hamilton.