Saturday’s result: White Sox 9, Dodgers 0
BY DARYL VAN SCHOUWEN dvanschouwen@suntimes.com February 23, 2013 5:58PM
Chicago White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko throws during spring training baseball in Phoenix, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Article Extras
Updated: March 25, 2013 7:01AM
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Tyler Flowers homered in his second at-bat, third-place hitter Alex Rios hit a double down each line, and Dylan Axelrod pitched three strong innings as the White Sox defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-0 in their Cactus League opener on Saturday afternoon.
The Sox banged out 14 hits and scored a run in each of the first two innings against Dodgers ace lefty Clayton Kershaw. Gordon Beckham doubled in a run against Kershaw and Dayan Viciedo singled in two runs in the third inning.
Axelrod struck out four, walked none and allowed one hit. Facing mostly Sox pitching prospects, the Dodgers had three hits.
Flowers, who has the unenviable task of making fans get over the loss of fan-favorite A.J. Pierzynski, downplayed the homer to left field against Stephen Fife, which Beckham called one of the hardest hit balls he’s seen.
“It was an OK at-bat,’’ Flowers said. “I had a couple of not-good takes and didn’t really see it really well except for a couple of pitches. The result is good but there is definitely more work to be done.’’
Axelrod, who started seven games last year, knows making the team will be tough.
“We’re very deep,’’ he said.
The two teams meet agains Sunday at Camelback Ranch.Sox right-hander Erik Johnson, ranked by Baseball America as the Sox’ No. 4 prospect, gets the start against Zack Greinke. Only prospects are slated to pitch for the Sox.
WHITE SOX 9, DODGERS 0
FOR THE RECORD: Sox (1-0) jumped off to a well-pitched, errorless and 14-hit Cactus League start. Tyler Flowers homered in his second at-bat, third-place hitter Alex Rios hit a double down each line (one for an RBI). Gordon Beckham doubled in a run and Dayan Viciedo singled in two.
FLOWER POWER: Beckham said Tyler Flowers’ home run to left field was maybe the hardest hit balls he’s seen. Flowers, who has the unenviable task of making fans get over the loss of fan-favorite A.J. Pierzynski, downplayed it. “It was an OK at-bat. I had a couple of not-good takes and didn’t really see it really well except for a couple of pitches. The result is good but there is definitely more work to be done,’’ Flowers said.
AXE-ING A LOT: Dylan Axelrod of Santa Barbara, Calif., enjoyed facing the Dodgers are breezing through the first three innings with one hit and no walks allowed. He struck out four. Axelrod, who started seven games last year, knows making the team will be tough. “We’re very deep,’’ he said. He also knows rosters fluctuate and he’ll likely be called upon in 2013.
THE MANAGER SPEAKS: “Today was nice,’’ Robin Ventura said. “Axe did a great job and the guys came out and swung the bat and kept it moving. The kids did the same thing when they went in at the end of the game.’’
ON DECK: Dodgers at White Sox, 2:05 (670-AM, whitesox.com). Right-hander Erik Johnson, ranked by Baseball American as the Sox’ No. 4 prospect, gets the start against Zack Greinke. Only prospects are slated to pitch for the Sox.
Daryl Van Schouwen
