In a game marred by a late defeat, the struggling 4-12 spring training Chicago White Sox fell 5-4 to the San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale, a game not televised for fans. Spencer Howard started for the Giants and faced early trouble in the first inning, allowing Dominic Fletcher and Yoán Moncada to reach base on consecutive walks. Despite loading the bases, the White Sox couldn’t convert, leaving the score 0-0.
Chris Flexen had a strong start for the White Sox, pitching three scoreless innings with only three hits and two strikeouts, though he struggled with control, issuing two walks, keeping his spring ERA at 0.00 over five innings.
The White Sox broke the deadlock in the fourth inning against Taylor Rogers, with Nicky Lopez doubling and eventually scoring on a fielder’s choice, giving them a 1-0 lead. However, the Giants quickly responded in the bottom of the inning, as Alex Speas replaced Flexen and allowed three consecutive walks, followed by sacrifice flies from Joey Bart and Austin Slater, putting the Giants ahead 2-1.
Spring substitutions began in the bottom of the fifth inning, with several players getting playing time, including Bryan Ramos, Mike Moustakas, Colson Montgomery, and Brett Phillips. Moustakas tied the game with an RBI single, driving in Braden Shewmake, who had tripled earlier. Montgomery and Jacob Burke added singles to give the White Sox a 3-2 lead.
The Giants struck back in the seventh inning, capitalizing on Jake Cousins’ pitching with back-to-back singles, a failed pickoff attempt, and a sacrifice fly, scoring two runs to take a 4-3 lead. The White Sox fought back in the ninth, with Brett Phillips walking and Mark Payton doubling to tie the game at 4-4, but Payton was caught stealing to end the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth, Bryan Shaw struggled, walking Wade Meckler, who then stole second and scored the winning run on a Tom Murphy single, ending the game 5-4 in favor of the Giants. The White Sox will return to Camelback Ranch to face the Colorado Rockies, with Jake Woodford starting against Kyle Freeland at 3:05 p.m. CT.
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