REDS 8, WHITE SOX 7

Lost cause

Brandon Dixon’s two- run home run against Jose Ruiz keyed a three- run Reds ninth, dropping the Sox to 4- 3 in Cactus League play. The better late- inning relief news came from right- hander Nate Jones, who in his first outing since having elbow surgery last season pitched a perfect eighth inning. Jones, touching 96 mph, got two groundouts and an inning- ending strikeout with a wipeout slider.

Adolfo gets in the swing

Prospect Micker Adolfo, who will not play the field because of a sprained ulnar collateral ligament but was cleared to be used as a designated hitter in the minors this season, got his first reps as a DH in a B game against the Padres in Peoria, going 0- for2 with a walk. “It was huge,’’ manager Rick Renteria said. “We need to get him into the rhythm of things and ready for the season.’’

Jimenez update

Eloy Jimenez, the team’s No. 1 prospect who hasn’t played since last Friday, did not travel with the team, and it remains unclear when he’ll play because of what Renteria described as minor soreness on the top of his left knee. “He’s improving, but we want to make sure when we put him on the field that he’s able to keep working and play,’’ Renteria said.

Clean it up

Reynaldo Lopez dropped a throw from first baseman Casey Gillaspie, second baseman Jose Rondon botched a rundown play and left fielder Nicky Delmonico and center fielder Leury Garcia miscommunicated and let a fly ball drop between them. Delmonico ( 2- for- 4, double, two RBI), Garcia ( 2- for- 3, triple) and Rondon ( triple, two RBI) fared better at the plate.

On deck

Dodgers at Sox, Glendale, Clayton Kershaw vs. Miguel Gonzalez, 2: 05 p. m. Friday.