White Sox top Padres, 3-1

Tonight the Padres hosted the White Sox in the first night game of the spring. We saw the first appearances from Padres relievers Brandon Maurer, Ryan Buchter, and Brad Hand. We also saw the Padres’ bats go quiet, including the end of Jabari Blash’s mini-streak. Sadly, the White Sox got the better of this contest, winning 3-1.

Luis Perdomo got the start for the Friars, and he pitched two clean innings. Next came Maurer, Buchter, and Hand in that order, each pitching an inning. Maurer surrendered one run on a Yoan Moncada triple, which knocked Tim Anderson in. These three relievers have been eased into action this spring because their workloads last season were career highs for each of the three.

Andre Rienzo followed Hand, and mystery man Jose Ruiz followed Rienzo, both surrendering a run in their respecting single innings of work. Ruiz was a struggling catcher who was converted to relief pitching late last season. He was added to the 40-man roster shortly before the Rule 5 draft, prompting bloggers everywhere (myself included) to google him. Brad Wieck righted the ship with a scoreless inning, and Dinelson Lamet finished the game in with a scoreless inning of his own, albeit an adventurous one.

On the offensive side, the Padres’ bats didn’t make much noise. Luis Sardinas showed signs of life, going 2-for-2, both singles. Heartthrob Austin Hedges started behind the plate and went 2-for-3, drawing swoons from scouts and fans alike. Hunter Renfroe hit a double for one of two Padre extra base hits, but he offset that knock with a throwing error that allowed the second run of the game. Spring standout Franchy Cordero legged out a triple in the bottom of the 8th. He broke the shutout as he scored on a flare single by Dusty Coleman. Somehow that run was scored while White Sox pitcher Aaron Bummer “struck out the side” according to Jesse Agler, which I still don’t fully understand. Sadly, that lone run was the only scoring the Padres could muster on this day.

Jarred Cosart is slated to start Saturday as the Padres host the Diamondbacks. He’ll probably be followed by Clayton Richard Sunday and Jered Weaver Monday according to AJ Cassavell.