Mixed bag for Reynaldo Lopez in first start; White Sox fall to A’s

Lopez needed 61 pitches (31 for strikes) to get through three innings of one-run ball in his first start of the spring. He threw all of his pitches for strikes, but his command wasn’t sharp, and his fastball looked flat.

SHARE Mixed bag for Reynaldo Lopez in first start; White Sox fall to A’s
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Reynaldo Lopez pitches against the Athletics Tuesday at Camelback Ranch.

Reynaldo Lopez needed 61 pitches (31 for strikes) to get through three innings of one-run ball in his first start of the spring. He threw all of his pitches for strikes, but his command wasn’t sharp, and his fastball looked flat in a 6-5 loss to the Athletics. Lopez walked three batters, struck out three and threw two wild pitches. “I liked all my pitches — they were all good,” he said. “I liked the way that I was working with my slider against lefties. What I didn’t like was I fell behind a few times and the walks.”

Hey, Nicky

Nicky Delmonico added a home run to his three doubles this spring and went 2-for-3 to hike his average to .389. Delmonico’s homer was against Chris Bassitt. Luis Robert, batting leadoff, singled and walked in three plate appearances and stole his second base. Designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (stiff back) returned to the lineup, going 0-for-2.

Madrigal and Vaughn

Second baseman Nick Madrigal, the No. 4 overall pick in 2018, would have needed a stellar spring to even be considered for an Opening Day roster spot, but that is not developing just yet. Madrigal had a ground ball go under his glove for a single and bounced out to third with Robert on second and no outs. He did get his fourth hit, going 1-for-3. He’s 4-for-19 this spring, all singles. Andrew Vaughn, the third overall pick in 2019, doubled into the right-field corner to hike his average to .417 with a homer and two doubles.

From the pen

Evan Marshall threw a scoreless inning with a strikeout, pitching out of trouble after his errant pickoff attempt at first base. Lefty Adalberto Mejia, who was lights-out in his previous outing, didn’t finish his inning, allowing two runs, two hits and a walk with one strikeout.

On deck

Sox at Brewers, Maryvale, 2:05 p.m. Wednesday, 720-AM, Dylan Cease vs. Brandon Woodruff. Yasmani Grandal is expected to see his first action in a B game in Glendale. Upcoming starters: Drew Anderson vs. Rockies on Thursday, Lucas Giolito at Cubs on Friday.

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