Ishikawa Drives In 5 To Lead White Sox Over Giants, 13-9
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Travis Ishikawa, a postseason hero for the Giants during their last World Series run, drove in five runs and finished a single short of the cycle to help the Chicago White Sox beat San Francisco, 13-9, on Sunday.
Ishikawa sent the Giants to the World Series in 2014 with a three-run walk-off homer in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, and he drew cheers from San Francisco fans Sunday. He hit a two-run homer and had a three-run triple against his former team.
Avisail Garcia and Todd Frazier each added two-run home runs for Chicago.
Brandon Crawford had three hits and drove in two runs and Brandon Belt added two RBIs for the Giants, who led 5-0 after two innings. Mac Williamson hit a two-run home run.
Giants pitcher Jake Peavy had one rough inning. He gave up three earned runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings.
White Sox starter Mat Latos was shelled for five earned runs on seven hits in four innings and hit the Giants' Hunter Pence in the upper back with a pitch. He also balked in a run, walked three and struck out two.
Two of the Giants' relievers were hit hard. George Kontos didn't get an out and allowed five runs on three hits, two of those home runs. Sergio Romo gave up three runs on four hits in two-thirds of an inning.
"George just made some mistakes there. He's got to pitch a little bit better, which he's capable of," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "That's a couple of rough outings for him."
WHAT BROWN DID FOR SF
Giants catcher Trevor Brown had an excellent first major league spring training and was voted the Barney Nugent Award winner Sunday for his .324 batting average and his overall play while catching 72 innings. Coaches, teammates and players vote on the Nugent award, given annually to a first-year player who embodies what it means to be a Giant.
Brown, 24, is close to making the opening day roster as Buster Posey's backup with Andrew Susac injured.
GIANTS MOVES
The Giants made some roster moves after the game, optioning pitcher Mike Broadway and OFs Jarrett Parker and Williamson to Triple-A Sacramento. Pitcher Braulio Lara, IFs Grant Green, Conor Gillaspie and Ramiro Pena, OF Gorkys Hernandez and C George Kottaras were re-assigned to minor league camp. That leaves the roster at 26 players.
LATE NIGHT ROSTER MOVE
Following Saturday night's split-squad loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the White Sox reassigned pitcher Carson Fulmer to minor league camp. Fulmer is a top prospect in the Chicago system and started Saturday night's game.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: C Alex Avila is dealing with a back issue and didn't play Sunday. He's only 1 for 17 in spring training and has struck out 12 times.
"We've seen him in the past, we've seen him offensively do some things," manager Robin Ventura said. "We're taking the spring thing and sometimes you can look at it and probably have some question marks with it, but for him, I think if he's healthy, he's going to be fine."
Giants: Posey was a late scratch from the lineup with hip tightness, but he's expected to be back in action on Monday. Brown replaced him.
"We said 'Let's back it off,'" Bochy said. "Last game (Friday) he felt it a little bit."
STARTING TIME
White Sox: Latos is expected to be in the starting rotation, but he struggled on Sunday, his second start in a major league spring game.
"I've got to start stringing together pitches. There's no doubt about it. I have to," Latos said. "Not bad for my second outing against big-league guys. Those guys over there are world champions and to be thrown into them is a good challenge. But like I said, if you don't have your 'A' game, you're going to get smacked around a little bit."
Giants: Peavy was somewhat encouraged after his longest outing of the spring to date. He'd allowed 16 earned runs on 32 hits in 17 1/3 innings before Sunday.
"We got through it. I like the way my body and my arm feels. I'm really happy and pleased with the way the spring went," Peavy said. "I know the ERA and numbers like that, they aren't good, but that being said, we made good pitches today for the most part."
UP NEXT
White Sox: LHP John Danks works toward the regular season with a scheduled outing against the Colorado Rockies and RHP Jordan Lyles.
Giants: RHP Chris Heston faces the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, his role on the opening day pitching staff still to be determined.
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