(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) -- Powered by a four-run second inning, the Chicago White Sox beat the Charlotte Knights 9-5 Monday in an exhibition game held at BB&T Ballpark for the first time since 2015. Reynaldo López (1-0) pitched 2.2 shutout innings and Avisaíl García hit a two-run home run in
(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) -- Powered by a four-run second inning, the Chicago White Sox beat the Charlotte Knights 9-5 Monday in an exhibition game held at BB&T Ballpark for the first time since 2015. Reynaldo López (1-0) pitched 2.2 shutout innings and Avisaíl García hit a two-run home run in the top of the second leading the way for the White Sox in their last tune-up before Opening Day.
Donn Roach (0-1) got the starting nod for the Knights pitching four innings, surrendering seven hits and five runs to the White Sox. Charlotte's bullpen settled down as the game went on with its last three pitchers -- Thyago Vieira, Brad Goldberg, and Jorge Rondon- allowing just one run and no hits over the final three innings.
Matt Davidson got things going for the White Sox as he grounded into a fielder's choice to score former Knights second baseman Yoán Moncada to give the White Sox an early 1-0 lead in the first. Moncada put together a nice day at the plate for the White Sox going 2-for-2 with one RBI and one run scored. Other notable former Knights appearing in the game for the White Sox included Yolmer Sanchez, Juan Minaya, Danny Farquhar, Tyler Saladino, and Adam Engel.
The Knights broke through in the seventh inning as Patrick Leonard scored on a wild pitch followed by a two-run home run by Juan Perez to cut the deficit to 8-3. Casey Gillaspie added a home run of his own in the ninth inning, a solo shot off of Drew Hasler. The Knights managed eight hits on the day off a veteran White Sox pitching staff.
Monday marked the final exhibition game of Spring Training for the White Sox as they head for Kansas City to take on the Royals Opening Day. As for the Knights, they have a just over a week left before for the season opener on the road against the division-rival Durham Bulls April 5 as the 2018 season kicks into high gear.
