Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith crumble, as White Sox get crushed 24-5 by Mariners and Rockies
Sure, that took two games, but that only made it seem worse
It should have been a day for the White Sox big pitching stars of the future (we had hoped) to strut their stuff against two weak-hitting teams. Instead, Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith could barely get their pitches somewhere between first and third base. Both had to get pulled really early, though they did get those Spring Training reappearances.
At home against Seattle, Smith went 2 1⁄3 innings thanks to the second chance, walking five and giving up three hits and six runs, five of them earned. Give him credit for leadership, though, since a half-dozen relievers took his cue and walked another seven and even added a hit batsman.
Before all that incompetence was over, Seattle (with the worst record in the Cactus League) chalked up 14 runs, even while leaving 10 on base. The White Sox actually tied the game at one in the second on a Lenyn Sosa single, but then left the bases loaded and didn’t bother to score again, hence the 14-1 slaughter.
Meanwhile, against lowly Colorado (which is having a good spring), Schultz matched Smith’s five walks in just 1 1⁄3 innings in two stints, though he only allowed one hit and was tagged for only three runs, two earned (yes, lousy fielding in both games). It took seven relievers to add another six walks in that one, which they accomplished even though the Rockies didn’t have to bat in the ninth. They included a wild pitch run on their tab, just for fun.
Against Colorado, the Sox actually got the score to just down 3-2 on a Bobby Dalbec double in the fourth, but it was all slaughter after that, though Nick Maton did manage a homer. The other run came on an Andre Lipcius single, a gift score since Bryan Ramos had been wild-pitched around to third. Final score, 10-4, Rubber Ducky (a reference for you Convoy fans).
To be fair to the pitchers, though, it should be pointed out they did have one 1-2-3 inning in each game.
There’s usually a break in the report verbiage at some point to show highlights, but to provide alleged highlight videos of these debacles would invite a lightning strike.
Add those debacles to the confirmation Drew Thorpe will have TJS and Brandon Drury has a broken thumb, and predicting 121 losses won’t be topped this year seems a case of cock-eyed optimism (a reference for you South Pacific fans).
The White Sox are now 10-18-1 for the spring (plus 0-1 in the Breakout game) with two exhibitions to go before it all goes on their permanent record beginning Thursday. Both those will be on TV, with tomorrow’s game against Arizona also on radio.