The White Sox lost a close one to the A’s, but we got a Luis Robert Jr. homer!

Fraser Ellard gave up the lead in the seventh, for a 5-4 final

This afternoon’s game started hot, but slowly fizzled into to the two teams I recognized. The White Sox just barely lost to the Athletics, 5-4, but barely doesn’t count — even in Spring Training.

Lawrence Butler started the game with a single for the visitors, setting Jacob Wilson up to send a fly ball out to left field for a two-run homer. Luis Robert Jr. split that lead in half in the bottom of the first with a solo home run, and Mike Tauchman evened the score with a homer to right field immediately afterward.

The second inning got a little dicey with a one-out walk to CJ Alexander and a single for Denzel Clarke. In true White Sox fashion, Josh Rojas allowed Butler to reach on a fielding error. However, in the same play, Rojas launched the ball to catcher Matt Thaiss, who then relayed it to Chase Meidroth to get Clarke out.

Brandon Drury singled to open the bottom of the second, and Thaiss reached on a fielding error by Max Schuemann. Alas, Joey Gallo was called out on strikes, and Meidroth hit right into Alexander’s glove for the third out.

The third inning would bring another walk and single for the A’s, but they couldn’t send a runner home.

Tyler Ferguson came in to replace A’s starter Joey Estes and immediately gave up a single to Robert. Tauchman and Lenyn Sosa both flew out to Alexander, and Rojas singled. Then Drury, the hero of the day thus far, doubled on a line drive to Alexander (who got a major workout this afternoon) and sent Robert and Rojas home, putting the White Sox up, 4-2.

Jairo Iriarte came on in relief of Sean Burke, who gave up two earned on five hits over three innings. Iriarte was a little shaky at first, issuing two walks, but got two force outs and a strikeout to keep the A’s from causing any real damage.

Mitch Spence came in to pitch against the Sox, and Butler was replaced in right field for Carlos Cortes. Thaiss took advantage of both substitutions by smacking a double to Clarke that was deflected by Cortes. Gallo once more — say it with me — struck out. Shea Langeliers caught Thaiss trying to run and launched the ball to third baseman Luis Urías to get the out. Meidroth followed with a grounder to short.

Langeliers drew a walk to start the fifth, and Nick Kurtz followed suit. A struggling Iriarte finally got a strikeout but followed it up by hitting Schuemann to load the bases. Eric Adler entered the game to face Alexander and get Iriarte off the mound before he could do any more damage. Alexander grounded into a force out but Langeliers scored. The A’s started to creep up on the Sox, now 4-3 heading into the bottom of the fifth. No response from the Sox though, instead, three fly outs in a row.

Iriarte went back out for the sixth, but thankfully, three easy outs came with haste. Drury continued hitting the ball with a one-out single. Spence attempted to pick off Drury’s pinch-runner, speedster Rikuu Nishida, but botched the play. Lucky for the A’s, they wouldn’t have to pay as the White Sox offense was shutting down for the day.

Fraser Ellard replaced Iriarte for the seventh. He immediately fell apart with singles to Alejo Lopez, Max Muncy and Jhonny Pered, then hit Colby Thomas to force home the tying run. Logan Davidson singled to put the A’s up by one. Thankfully, Henry Bolte grounded into a double play and Cortes struck out to end the inning. But there would be no rally by the White Sox today.

Penn Murfee replaced Ellard for the eighth and escaped scoreless despite traffic. Jordan Leasure finished off the game in the ninth and started by hitting Thomas — the second plunking of the game for Thomas. Leasure did follow up with three strikeouts in a row, though. A man named Gage Jump, who apparently plays for the A’s, retired the Sox batters in order to end the game and secure a win.

The White Sox lick their wounds 10 games in, at 2-8, and have an off-day on Tuesday before getting back into it on March 5. Expect some roster shuffling during a non-game day tomorrow.

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