THE GAME: The Angels managed just two hits in a 1-1 tie against the Chicago White Sox in a Cactus League game on Wednesday in Glendale, Arizona.
PITCHING REPORT: Right-hander José Soriano gave up one run in three innings. He pitched into the fourth, because he was pulled after throwing 19 pitches to get two outs in the third inning. Soriano made it up to 70 pitches. He struck out five and walked three. This spring he has 13 strikeouts in 9⅓ innings. Soriano struck out 7.7 hitters per nine innings last season. He said increasing his strikeout rate isn’t a priority. “Honestly, the plan is to get batters out as quickly as I can,” Soriano said through an interpreter. … Right-hander Ben Joyce pitched a scoreless inning, with three strikeouts. His fastball topped out at 103.6 mph on his final strikeout. Joyce has pitched four scoreless innings this spring, with seven strikeouts. … Right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn worked in and out of a bases-loaded jam to get a scoreless inning. He struck out Andrew Vaughn with a cutter to end the inning. Zeferjahn has not allowed a run in five innings this spring. … Left-hander Brock Burke worked a scoreless inning, with the help of his defense. Left fielder Scott Kingery, who had just made a sliding catch, collaborated with shortstop Kyren Paris on a relay to get an out at the plate.
HITTING REPORT: The Angels didn’t have a hit until the fifth inning, when Yoán Moncada singled. … After three straight walks in the sixth, Jorge Soler was up with the bases loaded. He challenged a called third strike, but the review showed the call was correct. Moncada then struck out, and the Angels got nothing out of the inning. … Chuckie Robinson, who was with the White Sox last year, tied the game with an RBI single in the eighth.
DEFENSE REPORT: Moncada made a nice play charging a slow bouncer at third. … Left fielder Taylor Ward had a ball bounce off his glove when he was trying to field a single. The error allowed the hitter to go to second. … Second baseman Kevin Newman mishandled a ball taking it from his glove as he tried to hurry to get a force at second. Newman started at second base for the first time this spring, with Tim Anderson starting at shortstop. Previously, Anderson had played both positions, but Newman had only played shortstop. Manager Ron Washington said that he’s undecided who will be the starting shortstop until Zach Neto returns from the injured list. … Shortstop Kyren Paris backhanded a ball in the hole, but then he made a bad throw, for the Angels’ third error of the game.
UP NEXT: Angels (RHP Yusei Kikuchi) vs. Kansas City Royals (RHP Michael Wacha), Friday, 1:10 p.m. PT, at Tempe Diablo Stadium, FanDuel Sports Network West, 830 AM
Angels (LHP Tyler Anderson) at Athletics (RHP Joey Estes), Friday, 1:05 p.m. PT, at Hohokam Stadium