Spring-training recap: White Sox 5, Mariners 0
BY JOE COWLEY jcowley@suntimes.com March 17, 2012 11:44PM
Kosuke Fukudome watches his hard line drive head toward center field. | AP
Updated: April 19, 2012 8:43AM
SOX 5,
MARINERS 0
Injury updates
Adam Dunn (sore neck) was back in the starting lineup Saturday. He played first base and went 1-for-4. Jesse Crain (strained right oblique) and Brent Morel (stiff back) remained out. Crain might take another three days, manager Robin Ventura said. Morel could be back Sunday.
Position battle
Infielder Eduardo Escobar showed he’s still in the battle for a reserve spot, going 2-for-3 with a three-run home run. He also stole his second base of the spring. He’s hitting .429, and Ventura said Escobar has the attention of the coaching staff.
Closing argument
Ventura still wasn’t tipping his hand on a closer, but Matt Thornton seems to be the front-runner. Addison Reed hasn’t been mentioned as much in conversations, and Crain has been set back by the oblique injury. Ventura maintained that a decision could wait until the final week of camp.
On deck
Sox (4-10) at Cubs (6-10), 3:05 p.m., 670-AM. Gavin Floyd (0-0, 2.25 ERA) gets the start.
Joe Cowley
