J.D. Davis homer is SF Giants top highlight in 7-3 loss to White Sox

SF Giants ace Logan Webb struggled to avoid hard contact against the Chicago White Sox and the Giants offense was unable to keep up.

The SF Giants fell to 2-3 on this young season on Wednesday, losing 7-3 to the Chicago White Sox. In a battle between two of the best right-handed pitchers in the major leagues, neither ace had their best outing. However, the Giants offense was unable to build on their seven-home run performance in their last game, and did not capitalize on drawing nine walks.

SF Giants ace Logan Webb pitches against the White Sox. (2023) / Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Giants starter Logan Webb lacked the strikeout stuff he had on Opening Day, and White Sox hitters were able to consistently square up the Giants ace. Outfielders Luis Robert and Andrew Benintendi singled off Webb in the bottom of the first, setting the stage for Andrew Vaughn and Gavin Sheets to record RBI hits. The White Sox tagged Webb for four runs on nine hits across five innings of work. Webb did not walk a batter and tallied four strikeouts.

The Giants lineup, on the other hand, was unable to capitalize on their baserunners. White Sox ace Dylan Cease walked five hitters in his five innings pitched but only surrendered one run on a solo homer by Giants third baseman J.D. Davis. Davis' homer was the Giants only hit against Cease.

Another home run? Another home run. 👋 pic.twitter.com/TkTCtYgPON

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) April 5, 2023

The Giants had a chance to get back in the game in the top of the seventh. Trailing 4-1, they loaded the bases with two outs against White Sox reliever Reynaldo Lopez, but Lopez struck out Joc Pederson on a 98.4 mph fastball to end the inning.

Giants swingman Sean Hjelle (Giants #28 prospect) replaced Webb. Hjelle shutdown the White Sox in the sixth before some tough luck and inconsistent defense cost him in the seventh.

White Sox shortstop Elvis Andrus reached base on an error by Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford to lead off the inning. Hjelle induced a comebacker against the next hitter, but his throw to second base was a bit wide of the bag. While David Villar, who was playing second base in place of Thairo Estrada (Estrada was given a day off after fouling a ball off himself on Tuesday), was able to record the out at second base, he fumbled the transfer and missed a chance for a double play.

The error and missed double play would prove costly. Robert singled once again and Crawford misjudged Benintendi's speed on a groundball, turning a tough play that should have been an out into an infield single. Hjelle struck out Vaughn but allowed a pair of hits to Yoan Moncada and Sheets before he was replaced by Scott Alexander. While Alexander struck out Yasmani Grandal to end the inning, Hjelle had already allowed three runs.

White Sox manager Pedro Grifol turned to Joe Kelly to finish things out in the ninth. Giants first baseman Wilmer Flores, who had replaced LaMonte Wade Jr. earlier in the day, started a two-run rally with a double off Kelly. Michael Conforto worked a walk and came around to score on a two-run double by Pederson. However, those two runs were far from enough to make things competitive.

After splitting the first two games of the series, the SF Giants and White Sox will face off tomorrow in a rubber match. First pitch is scheduled for 11:10 AM Pacific. Giants southpaw Alex Wood will get the start, making his season debut, facing off against veteran righty Lance Lynn.