:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29510045/475372225.0.jpg)
The Indians won their 5th spring-training game in a row Tuesday afternoon, defeating the White Sox 5-4 at Goodyear Ballpark.
Joe Wendle, winner of the Lou Boudreau Award (given annually by the Indians to their top-performing position-player prospect) last season, knocked in the winning run on a single with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, scoring fellow prospect Tyler Naquin from second, while Jesus Aguilar was also on base. Maybe come 2016, those guys will all be in the lineup in Cleveland (though Wendle may need to find a new position, as Jason Kipnis will hopefully still be posting All-Star numbers at the keystone position for the Tribe).
Mike Aviles and Asdrubal Cabrera each had a pair of hits for the Indians, including a double apiece. Kipnis and Carlos Santana also each had a double, while David Murphy tripled. Santana played 5 innings at third base, and in the 4th he caught a pop fly, and also cleanly fielded a grounder and threw out the runner. No, that's not a big deal, but given that he threw the ball away on his first opportunity of the Cactus League season, it's nice to see him with a clean sheet defensively today.
Zach McAllister started for the Indians, throwing two innings. He allowed a double and a walk in the 1st, but escaped without allowing either runner to score, then pitched a 1-2-3 2nd inning. Josh Tomlin came in next, and became the first Tribe pitcher to go more than two innings this spring. He allowed 2 runs on 3 hits in his first inning, but settled down and retired the final six hitters he faced, completing three frames all together.
Marc Rzepczynski pitched a scoreless 6th, while new closer John Axford gave up a home run to the first batter he faced in the 7th, before striking out 2 later in the inning.
You can find the full box score here.
The Tribe travels to Peoria, Arizona tomorrow afternoon, to take on the Mariners at 3:05 ET. I haven't seen the scheduled pitchers yet, but Justin Masterson hasn't pitched in a game since Thursday, so don't be surprised if he goes 2 or 3 innings.