Spring training roundup: Cubs pound White Sox

Feb 23, 2024; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Christopher Morel (5) hits a two run home run against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Christopher Morel hit a two-run homer during a six-run first inning, Joe Hudson collected five RBIs and the host Chicago Cubs defeated the Chicago White Sox 8-1 in a spring training opener Friday in Mesa, Ariz.

Morel, the second batter in the bottom of the first, smacked a home run to left-center to drive in Ian Happ. Hudson hit a bases-clearing double and Matthew Shaw brought him in with a double to conclude the outburst. Hudson added a two-run infield single in the fifth inning.

Feb 23, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Jhony Brito against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Cubs starter Jordan Wicks (1-0) worked 1 2/3 innings. He yielded a solo shot to Timothy Elko in the second inning, one of just four White Sox hits on the day.

Forty-year-old Jesse Chavez (0-1) gave up all six of the Cubs’ runs on six hits in the first inning. Seven other pitchers took the mound for the White Sox and combined to yield just three more hits.

Feb 23, 2024; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Chicago White Sox second baseman Bryan Ramos (82) warms up before a game against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Rangers 5, Royals 4

Dustin Harris singled in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh as defending World Series champion Texas beat visiting Kansas City in Surprise, Ariz.

The Royals had tied the score 4-4 in the top of the inning thanks to Joe Gray’s single and Luca Tresh’s sacrifice fly. Drew Waters homered for Kansas City to open the scoring in the second.

The Rangers had just four hits, scoring on a wild pitch and a sac fly during the second. Starter Dane Dunning pitched a perfect first and Antoine Kelly (1-0) picked up the win despite giving up two unearned runs. Mason Barnett (0-1) took the loss for the Royals.

Rockies 3, Diamondbacks 0

Carson Palmquist and six relievers combined to strike out 16 batters while yielding just five hits as host Colorado blanked Arizona in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Feb 23, 2024; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jordan Wicks (36) throws against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Palmquist fanned four batters over two innings and Chance Adams (1-0) had two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings. Elehuris Montero broke the seal with a fourth-inning home run and Drew Romo and Jordan Beck added RBIs for the Rockies.

Feb 23, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman against the San Diego Padres during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Blaze Alexander had a single and a double for the D-backs. Chris Rodriguez (0-1) allowed Montero’s homer.

Dodgers 4, Padres 1

Freddie Freeman knocked his first pitch of spring training out of the park and added a sac fly as host Los Angeles handled San Diego in Phoenix.

Freeman took Jhony Brito (0-1) deep to left in the first and Dalton Rushing added a sac fly off him in the second. Dodgers starter Landon Knack (1-0) struck out four in two perfect innings before his bullpen took over.

Cal Mitchell had an RBI single as the Padres plated just one run in a loss to the Dodgers for the second straight day to open spring training.

–Field Level Media