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If you spent the $20-$30 needed to attend today’s game as a spectator, you would’ve walked away having gotten your money’s worth.

It was a back and forth battle at Hohokam Stadium! The White Sox got to A’s starter Jeffrey Springs early, in the first inning Edgar Quero and Lenyn Sosa would do some damage. A run scoring single and a double between the two would give the South Siders a 3-0 lead before the A’s even picked up a bat.

That 3-0 lead would be short lived though. In the bottom half of the first, the A’s answered right back with a an RBI double and single of their own – – thanks to Brent Rooker and Jeff McNeil.

After a quiet second inning for both clubs, the White Sox would strike – – three times – – all off of one swing by Korey Lee. Miguel Vargas and Jarred Kelenic both scored on the dinger. Springs would not return for the fourth inning. His day ends with the troubling line of 2.2 IP, 4H, 6ER, 3 BB, and 3K :/

Tough day for the A’s southpaw but us fans have grown custom to poor pitching performances by our starting pitchers this spring.

Thankfully the offense has been cartoonishly hot. Three solo home runs by Brent Rooker, Nick Kurtz, and Shea Langeliers had the game all tied up by the end of the fourth inning. That lead, however, would be short lived thanks to a Derek Hill RBI single off of Mark Leiter Jr. in the top of the fifth.

That would be the last of the offensive damage for the White Sox. They’d carry that 7-6 lead up until the bottom of the seventh, where the Non-roster trio of Tommy White, Michael Stefanic, and Cade Marlowe tied it all up, leading to a Jared Dickey single that brought Stefanic and Marlowe home, making it 9-7 A’s.

For good measure, the A’s tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the eighth. Tommy White’s single scored Leo De Vries, who just missed a home run. White would then be brought in on a Cade Marlowe fielder’s choice.

Final score sits 11-7, A’s over the White Sox. They’ll be back at it against the Arizona Diamondbacks tomorrow. Right now, the pitching matchup is scheduled to be Luis Morales vs. Ryne Nelson. This’ll be Morales’ fourth outing so far this spring. Let’s hope he can build off of the small flashes of success he experienced last week against the Angels.

For those of you tuning in to tonight’s USA vs. Team Italy WBC game, feel free to keep the conversation going below!

PORT ST. LUCIE — Jonah Tong finished last season in the major leagues, but will have to wait before receiving another chance at that level.

On Tuesday, the rookie was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, as the Mets look to find innings for the right-hander that won’t be available in major league camp.

“He’s a big part of what we’re trying to do here,” manager Carlos Mendoza said before the Mets faced the Cardinals in an exhibition game. “Just go down there and continue to develop and work on some things that you need to work on.”

Tong, 22, pitched to a 7.71 ERA in five starts for the Mets last season.

Entering camp he was viewed as rotation depth, behind Freddy Peralta, Nolan McLean, Sean Manaea, Clay Holmes, Kodai Senga and David Peterson. The Mets also have Christian Scott, who is returning from Tommy John surgery rehab, as rotation depth.

“We were pretty honest with [Tong] from the very beginning, understanding that injuries happen throughout camp,” Mendoza said. “But the most likely outcome was he was probably going to start the year at Triple-A. But having that relationship with him now is more like some of the things he needs to work on.

“He’s a humble guy that wants to continue to get better, always asking good questions, which is basically what we saw [previously]. And the way he handles adversity.” 

Scott, in his first Grapefruit League outing (he previously pitched against Team Israel in a scrimmage), pitched three scoreless innings in relief in the 6-1 victory over the Cardinals. The right-hander walked four and struck out four, allowing only one hit.

The right-hander missed all of last season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He pitched 2 ²/₃ scoreless innings against Israel in his spring debut.

Luis Robert Jr.’s debut in the Grapefruit League is scheduled for Thursday against the Cardinals in Jupiter, Fla.

The outfielder has been playing minor league games every other day to slow-play his spring in an attempt to preserve his legs.

Francisco Lindor played four innings on defense in a simulated game as he rehabs from left hamate bone surgery.

Team officials remain optimistic the shortstop will be available to play Opening Day in two weeks. 

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Jasson Domínguez’s first-inning at-bat against Tanner Banks on Tuesday featured a different result and a different swing than “The Martian” had been accustomed to against lefty pitching.

The switch-hitter has struggled significantly against southpaws in his career, last year hitting just .204 with a .569 OPS and one home run in 104 plate appearances.

But against Banks, he jumped on a 1-2 four-seamer on the inside part of the plate and launched it to left field for a home run.

He jumped on the pitch, but his front foot did not jump. He took a step forward rather than the large leg kick he had displayed last season.

“Just trying to try something new,” Domínguez said after the 4-2 win over the Phillies at BayCare Ballpark. “When you’re doing bad, you’re already at the bottom.”

Perhaps the lesser movement will help Domínguez, who in all likelihood will have to prove himself against lefties — and righties, too — with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre because the Yankees do not have an opening in the Opening Day outfield barring injury.

It is also possible that simply getting more at-bats against lefties will be the key to unlocking his righty swing.

He is a natural righty but only has logged a couple hundred plate appearances as a righty in his minor league career.

“He still controls the zone from that side. It’s just continuing to get reps from that side,” manager Aaron Boone said of Domínguez — who overall is having a nice spring, going 10-for-30 with two homers, two steals and a .944 OPS. “I feel like this spring … he’s hit some balls hard for outs from that side of the plate as well. 

“He’s still a better left-handed hitter, but there’s no reason to think that over time, the right side can’t come up because he’s got power on that side, he’s got plate discipline, it’s just a matter of continuing to gain experience.”

Asked how many spots could be open in the bullpen, Boone said, “Two. Maybe one.”

That list of potential options includes Rule 5 draft pick Cade Winquest, who has had a rocky spring. If he doesn’t stick on their major league roster for the entire season, he would be sent back to the Cardinals.

But Boone said, “Frankly, there have been mixed results for the guys in the mix for the last two spots. We’ll see that play out a little bit. … There are opportunities for guys to grab it.”

That list also includes Jake Bird, who has struggled. And Boone also mentioned right-hander Kervin Castro, who spent last year with SWB.

“I think he can be a factor,” Boone said of the 27-year-old. “He opened my eyes this spring, seeing him in person for the first time.”

Boone said Anthony Volpe’s recovery from offseason labrum surgery is progressing, and the shortstop is scheduled to begin taking live at-bats in about three weeks.

The Yankees want Ben Rice to continue to focus on first base in Grapefruit League games, while catching occasional bullpens.

Boone saw Aaron Judge’s strong one-hop throw from right field to third that resulted in an out Monday night in the WBC and thought it looked familiar.

“He’s so under control and not in a hurry,” Boone said of Judge, who dealt with a right flexor strain last season that prevented him from throwing at full strength.

It hasn't been the smoothest spring training for right-hander Roki Sasaki as he prepares for his second season with the Dodgers.

Sasaki's first two starts in Cactus League play featured some issues with command and plenty of hard contact. But with left-hander Blake Snell and right-hander Gavin Stone sidelined with shoulder issues, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts left no doubt where Sasaki stood as he got ready to pitch in a B-game against White Sox minor leaguers on Tuesday.

“Having Blake [Snell] late to the season, which we know, [and] Gavin Stone, late to the season, as we know, we’re going to need Roki,” Roberts said. “With the buildup, I just don’t see a world in which he doesn’t break with us as a starter, and so, we’re going to need those innings.”

Sasaki took a promising step forward on a minor-league field at Camelback Ranch.

Read more:'He’s having a great spring.' How Santiago Espinal is playing his way onto Dodgers roster

The hard-throwing right-hander threw 59 pitches, 40 for strikes, across four innings while striking out nine of the 13 batters he faced and allowing two to reach base.

Although Roberts did not see Sasaki’s outing, he heard rave reviews from members of the organization who attended.

“They said it was electric,” Roberts said after the Dodgers' 4-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Camelback Ranch. “They said [he was touching] 98 to 100 [mph]. The fastball was spraying a little early, but then he locked it in. And then the split was on-play, short, lot of swing-and-miss. Couldn’t have asked for a better day.”

Sasaki surrendered a single through the right side of the infield to the first batter he faced, then proceeded to strike out the next seven batters. His only other hiccup came in the third inning, when he hit Jason Matthews with a stray breaking ball on a full count.

“I actually felt pretty bad the last couple days, but today I was able to make an adjustment, so that’s what I really need for right now,” Sasaki said via an interpreter after his outing. “I think I can keep moving forward.”

Sasaki was shelled in his second Cactus League start last week, allowing four runs, three walks, a single and a grand slam to the Cleveland Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark. He was lifted from the game without recording an out, only to get re-inserted in the second inning to complete two scoreless innings.

Sasaki noted mechanical issues as the reason for his struggles after the game. Tuesday, he said he felt much better, focusing on his core and obliques.

“I was actually focusing on core, oblique stuff,” Sasaki said. “I think it’s all about mechanics. If my mechanics are really good, my command is good, too.”

Read more:'Control what you can control.' Why Dodgers prospect Ryan Ward continues to wait his turn

Roberts took away plenty of value from the outing, even one against a lineup of minor leaguers.

"There's still value in getting hitters out and seeing guys swing and miss," Roberts said. "I think we accomplished what we wanted to today, we built him up. Obviously, built up some confidence. So, just go from there."

Tyler Glasnow cruises in third spring training outing

Tyler Glasnow pitched into the fifth inning of Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks, giving up a leadoff home run before settling in and giving up one other hit and one walk while striking out five in 4.1 innings of work.

“He looks as good as I’ve seen him over a period of time,” Roberts said. “And I just think that things are slowing down for him now. I really do. And I don’t know if it was going to the pen [and] pitching in the postseason the way he did, whatever it was, I just think there’s been real growth in him as a person and it is translating to on-the-field.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

This afternoon, the Colorado Rockies lost to the Cincinnati Reds, 8-1.

For a more detailed analysis, click here.

We’ll start with postgame comments from manager Warren Schaeffer:

And here’s starting pitcher Ryan Feltner:

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What exactly is the cost of a Mariners win. Certainly, it can’t be too expensive, right? Professional athletes work themselves out so hard everyday to grind out wins one-at-a-time, so you have to factor that in as an expense. Then there’s all the staff and coaches around keeping guys pointed in the right direction, their collective man hours is a heavy price. Oh, and you make sure that you spend the entire morning dealing with two of your All-Stars starting beef over a handshake on an international stage. That must be one of those hidden fees I’m always hearing about. Let’s get into the game.

Cooper Criswell took the start today opposite Royals ace Cole Ragans, and spent his 3.1 innings throwing as many strikes as possible, thirty-nine in fifty-seven pitches, and getting ten swings-and-misses. A couple hits, one to Isaac Collins in the first and a double to Carson Roccaforte in the third, were the only blemishes on his card for the day. Criswell battled against Isaac Collins in the bottom of third, getting an overturned call on an ABS challenge to stay in the count early, and ultimately get a fly ball out to right that ended an inning before it could get out of hand. He came out in the fourth and dismissed Carter Jensen on five pitches for his fifth strikeout and his day was done.

Dan Wilson had nothing but good things to say about Criswell after the game. “Really good outing for Cris. Throwing the ball well, staying ahead in counts, was pretty efficient.” Wilson went on talking about Criswell; “It’s been hard for hitters to get comfortable in there, and really try to figure him out.” On Criswell’s stuff, Wilson said, “he’s got the good movement, he’s got the good breaking balls, he’s got the good options, there’s nothing that they can get comfortable on.” When asked about Criswell’s resilience, Wilson said, “That’s the veteran experience that he’s gotten. He’s been around, he understands the game. It really does help him get back … take the next hitter and thwart whatever is going on. He’s got a slow heartbeat.”

After his outing, Criswell talked about his cutter and how it helps complete his arsenal of pitches, saying he likes to use it to, “reset the eyes of the hitter” away from the bottom of the zone that the sinker, change, and sweeper tend to end up, and making sure the hitter has to, “respect the top and bottom of the zone.”

Cole Wilcox was second out of the bullpen following Jimmy Kingsbury and pitched a clean top of the fifth but got into trouble quickly in the sixth, allowing a walk and a couple line drives, one to left for an out, and another that touched down in right. Dan brought in lefty Reid Easterly, to keep the lead, and his second pitch was taken deep to right by Kameron Misner. Those three runs ended up being all Kansas City would score.

The Mariners got the days offense started in the second by stringing together a couple of base-hits. Leo Rivas spanked a single to left before Spencer Packard doubled into the left-center gap to drive him home. The offense continued in the bottom of the fourth when Lazaro Montes slugged a double 109 mph out to center to score Patrick Wisdom, and then scored later in the inning when Bill Knight singled up the middle.

Montes and Knight teamed up again in the bottom of the sixth to generate a run. After Montes singled on a 100.8 out to right, he was standing at third with two outs when Knight managed to put a bloop into shallow right to bring him home, and get a hustle double for himself.

After the sixth it was zeroes across the board, and Michael Rucker got his first Cactus League save to close out a cool-hand-across-your-fevered-brow win.

Mariners are back at it tomorrow in Peoria hosting the Colorado Rockies at 1:10pm PST.

Other notes:

• Casey Legumina worked a perfect top of the seventh against 3 straight lefties getting a fly out, groundout, and a strikeout.
• Cole Young, Brennen Davis, Leo Rivas, Lazaro Montes, and Bill Knight all played the full nine innings of today’s game, each getting four at-bats and going a combined 6-17 with 3 RBIs and two walks.