![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/CTC-L-sox-orioles001_261381852.jpg\")
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Shane Smith delivers to the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning of a game at Rate Field in Chicago on April 7, 2026. (Chris Sweda\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n
Smith had some hot and cold moments, striking out eight while walking five in 3 2\/3 scoreless innings.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot really putting our team in a good position to win,\u201d Smith said. \u201cJust killing our bullpen. As we get into a season and the games start stacking up, we need these guys to be as fresh as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot giving up any runs is a step in the right direction for sure. Walking five probably isn\u2019t. I think there\u2019s good and bad.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith allowed one hit in the laboring 99-pitch outing.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did a nice job as far as getting some swing and miss in the zone,\u201d Venable said. \u201cReally good curveball early in the game. The four-seam fastball was better, that\u2019s something he\u2019s struggled with the command of. But obviously the command overall wasn\u2019t there. The number of walks that he issued, the hit batter, still working to be more efficient in the zone.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Smith worked out of trouble, the Sox made the most of some two-out hits to take an early lead. Derek Hill began the third-inning rally with a single. Chase Meidroth then hit a blooper that bounced away from left fielder Taylor Ward for an RBI double. Lenyn Sosa followed with an RBI bloop single to center, giving the Sox a 2-0 lead.<\/p>\n
The Orioles scored once in the fifth and jumped ahead with the three runs in the eighth. Ward tied the score with an RBI double against reliever Jordan Hicks. Henderson followed with the two-run home run against Murphy.<\/p>\n
The Sox brought the tying run to the plate in both the eighth and ninth innings, but came up short to drop their second straight in the series.<\/p>\n
Smith is continuing to work, including making adjustments<\/a>, to aid the team.<\/p>\n \u201cDavis (Martin) goes six the other day, (Erick) Fedde is throwing really well, (Anthony) Kay is throwing the ball well and Sean (Burke),\u201d Smith said. \u201cYou don\u2019t want to be the anchor with any staff or on any team.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just trying to do well so we can win some ballgames.\u201d<\/p>\n Austin Hays heads to IL, Brooks Baldwin has season-ending surgery The Sox placed outfielder Austin Hays on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 1 right hamstring strain. He suffered the injury while running for a fly ball near the left-field foul line in the fourth inning of Monday\u2019s 2-1 loss<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are looking at two to four weeks, hoping it\u2019s on the shorter end,\u201d Venable said before Tuesday\u2019s game. \u201cHe\u2019ll get going right away with his rehab and the training staff has gone through this before. Feel good that hopefully it\u2019s on the shorter side here.<\/p>\n \u201cHe knows what he has to do and he\u2019ll put in all the work to make this as quick as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/CTC-SOX-SPRING-TRAINING-18_259645022.jpg\")
Chicago White Sox outfielder Brooks Baldwin sits in the dugout with teammates during spring training at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n