White Sox 7, Guardians 5: Fantastic Early Pitching Enough to Survive Late Cleveland Surge

The post White Sox 7, Guardians 5: Fantastic Early Pitching Enough to Survive Late Cleveland Surge appeared first on Sox On 35th.

It was a combination of early run production and terrific performances from the White Sox’s first few arms that powered them past the Guardians 7-5 today in Arizona.

White Sox bats began immediately blistering the Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee, as prospect Sam Antonacci sent the ninth pitch of the game off a building in right field to take an early lead. His day ended with nothing more but reaching base twice more after getting hit by two pitches, a stat he totalled 35 of across three levels of MiLB play last season.

Miguel Vargas and LaMonte Wade Jr. each collected doubles in the second inning that led to a 3-0 score at the end of it. The first baseman drove Vargas in on his, resulting in his second straight game with an RBI and shaking off what has been a cold spring. Vargas collected another double that tacked another run on, en route to another good spring game for the third baseman.

Scrappy runs came as the game went on, through wild pitches, a single from shortstop William Bergolla Jr., and Sam Antonacci making it home on a double play.

It was Tyler Davis‘ struggles in the seventh that saw a White Sox team on cruise control for just about the whole game, suddenly facing serious pressure as opposing bats got hot, kicked off by Guardians’ prospect Ralphy Velazquez‘s double. Davis was able to strike out two but gave up three runs before reliever Riley Gowens found his way through the end of the jam.

Velazquez also helped surge another brief offensive explosion for Cleveland, but his second double led to only him being scored by catcher Kody Huff‘s single later on for the Guardians’ fifth run.

Cleveland was down early, in part because of the White Sox’s lone 2025 All-Star Shane Smith. The Wake Forest product made his second start of the spring, performing well in a three-inning stint that saw him fan two, and surrender only two hits to the Guardians.

Once the Southside went to the bullpen, it was a combination of Wikelman González, Jedixon Paez, and Alexander Alberto, all allowing a total of one baserunner in their three innings. González and Paez saw no traffic and a strikeout, with Alberto allowing only a single, keeping Guardian bats silent till the seventh.

Scoring Summary

Top 1st: Sam Antonacci homers on a fly ball to right-center field. White Sox lead 1-0.
Top 1st: LaMonte Wade Jr. doubles on a ground ball to second baseman Juan Brito, deflected by first baseman Kyle Manzardo. Miguel Vargas scores. White Sox lead 2-0.
Top 1st: Wild pitch by Tanner Bibee. LaMonte Wade Jr. scores. White Sox lead 3-0.
Bottom 3rd: George Valera doubles on a sharp line drive to right fielder Dru Baker. Steven Kwan scores. White Sox lead 3-1.
Top 5th: Miguel Vargas singles on a line drive to center fielder Steven Kwan. William Bergolla Jr. scores. White Sox lead 4-1.
Top 5th: LaMonte Wade Jr. grounds out to first baseman Kyle Manzardo. Sam Antonacci scores. White Sox lead 5-1.
Top 6th: William Bergolla Jr. singles on a line drive to center fielder Petey Halpin. Rikuu Nishida scores. White Sox lead 6-1.
Top 7th: Mario Camilletti grounds into a double play, shortstop Alex Mooney to second baseman Dayan Frias to first baseman Ralphy Velazquez. Sam Antonacci scores. White Sox lead 7-1.
Bottom 7th.Yerlin Luis doubles on a sharp line drive to right fielder Rikuu Nishida. Ralphy Velazquez scores. White Sox lead 7-2.
Bottom 7th: Alex Mooney singles on a ground ball to left fielder Mario Camilletti. Kody Huff scores. White Sox lead 7-4.
Bottom 8th: Kody Huff singles on a line drive to center fielder Matt Hogan. Ralphy Velazquez scores. White Sox lead 7-5.

Box Score

Offensive Summary

Chase Meidroth (2B): 0-for-4, K
- Andy Weber (SS): 0-for-1
Sam Antonacci (DH): 2-for-3, HR, RBI, 3 R, 2 HBP
- Jordan Sprinkle (PH): 0-for-1
Miguel Vargas (3B): 2-for-3, R, RBI, 2 2B
- Oliver Dunn (3B): 0-for-1, K
LaMonte Wade Jr. (1B): 1-for-2, R, 2 RBI, BB, 2B
- Michael Turner (C): 0-for-0, 2 BB
Derek Hill (CF): 1-for-3
- Mario Camilletti (LF): 0-for-2
Jared Kelenic (LF): 0-for-3
- Ryan Galanie (1B): 0-for-1, K
Korey Lee (C): 0-for-1, 2 BB
- Rikuu Nishida (PR-RF): 0-for-1, SB
Dru Baker (RF): 0-for-3, K
- Darren Baker (2B): 1-for-1, 2 SB
William Bergolla Jr. (SS): 1-for-2, R, RBI, BB
- Matt Hogan (CF): 0-for-1, K

Totals: 32 AB, 7 R, 7 H, 5 RBI, 6 BB, 5 K

Pitching Summary

Shane Smith (W): 3.0 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Wikelman González: 1.0 IP, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Jedixon Paez: 1.0 IP, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Alexander Alberto: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Tyler Davis: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 2 K
Riley Gowens: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Adisyn Coffey: 1.0 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 K
Shane Murphy (S): 1.0 IP, K

Totals: 9.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 9 K

Key Performers

Sam Antonacci

2-for-3, HR, RBI, 2 HBP

Every time Antonacci touched first base today, he found a way to score. It started with a ball that he launched out to right for a solo-shot, followed by two HBPs where he made it home both times.

Death, Taxes, and Sam Antonacci getting hit by a pitch (his second one of the day) pic.twitter.com/UHV7Da6MG3

— Sox On 35th (@SoxOn35th) February 28, 2026

Shane Smith

3.0 IP, R, ER, BB, 2 K

Smith appeared in mid-season form on the bump today, earning a solid line that gave the White Sox a great foundation to start on.

Miguel Vargas

2-for-3, R, RBI, 2 2B

Vargas continued his good weekend, earning his third double of the last two days. He’s been a sparkplug that the Sox hope continues to act the same way when the season starts in late March.

LaMonte Wade Jr.

1-for-2, R, 2 RBI, BB, 2B

In his second day in a row with two RBIs, Wade seems to have finally gotten back on track. There is hope he can make the roster, but time will tell if there is space for the veteran first baseman.

Darren Baker

1-for-1, 2 SB

Baker was a substitute today, but showed some great skill on the basepaths, earning two stolen bases, one of which as the catcher threw the ball back to the pitcher.

Next Game

The White Sox will kick off the month of March with another Crosstown tilt against the Cubs. First pitch on Sunday is set for 3:05 PM CST.

Featured Photo: White Sox/Twitter

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