White Sox raise spring homer total to 16, gain split-squad split

SURPRISE, Ariz. — The White Sox continued to hit the long ball, and Avisail Garcia continued to hit the ball hard and drive in runs in a 8-2 split-squad victory over the Texas Rangers.

Outfielder Jerry Sands drove in four runs with a three-run homer and sacrifice fly and Garcia roped a double to right center to drive in a run and a double to left center for another RBI in his next at-bat, hiking his Cactus League leading RBI total to nine. Garcia is batting .529 this spring.

Travis Ishikawa was 3-for-3, all singles.

Left-hander Jose Quintana, making his first start after pitching in B games only, allowed two runs over 4 1/3 innings.

At Glendale: The Sox turned a triple play on fly ball to left field with two Royals baserunners going on the pitch, and Brett Lawrie and Matt Davidson each hit homers in a 9-2 loss. Sox left fielder Jason Coats gloved a liner by Tony Cruz, and with Reymond Fuentes and Dusty Coleman on the go, Coats, shortstop Jimmy Rollins and first baseman Mike Olt easily doubled and tripled them off second and first to complete the triple play.

“I’ve never seen [a triple play] in person,” Coats said. “All I had to do was get it into the infield and it was an easy triple play.”

With four homers Thursday, the Sox have 16 homers in nine Cactus League games. Saladino, Davidson and Lawrie each have two.

First-round right-hander Carson Fulmer gave up a run on two hits over 2 1/3 innings. His first start (two innings, five hits, three runs) was also against the World Series champion Royals.

“The butterflies are still there from getting amped up for a start,” Fulmer said. “I felt more comfortable with it. It was my second time facing them and I’m getting a good feel of how the pace of a game goes. And the approach that a lot of these guys have.”

On deck: At Padres, Friday, 2:05, Peoria. Carlos Rodon vs. James Shields.