Spring-training recap: White Sox 5, Astros 1
BY DARYL VAN SCHOUWEN dvanschouwen@suntimes.com April 3, 2012 10:36PM
Updated: May 5, 2012 8:20AM
Sox 5, Astros 1
For the record
Returning for the first time to the scene of their World Series-clinching victory in 2005, the Sox won the first of two exhibitions in Houston.
Closing in
Nate Jones pitched the fifth, Addison Reed the sixth, Jesse Crain the seventh, Matt Thornton the eighth and – drum roll, please — Hector Santiago the ninth. None were scored on, but Santiago loaded the bases and finished the game with a double-play liner back to mound.
Sox power
Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning. Dunn’s towering blast carried 430 feet to center field, and Konerko’s was lined into the Crawford boxes in left. It was Dunn’s sixth of the spring and Konerko’s first. The pair did not hit back-to-backs last season.
Sale in control
Chris Sale, in his final tuneup before his first start Monday in Cleveland, struck out six and walked two — doubling his total of spring walks. He allowed a run in four innings and thew 62 pitches. He didn’t allow a hit after the first.
Like a glove
Shortstop Alexei Ramirez (diving stop), second baseman Gordon Beckham (leaping catch) and right fielder Alex Rios (sliding catch) made exceptional plays.
On deck
Sox at Astros, 1:05 p.m. Philip Humber faces lefty J.A. Happ.
Daryl Van Schouwen
