SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Miguel Gonzalez’s final start of the spring was even better than his second-to-last one, a good way for the veteran right-hander to head into the season.
Gonzalez pitched 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball in the White Sox’ 3-1 victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday night at Salt River Fields, using an effective splitter to strike out five. He walked two and allowed four hits. He left after throwing 88 pitches with the Sox leading 3-0. Against the Dodgers on Saturday, Gonzalez gave up two runs in 5 1/3 innings.
RELATED STORIES
No complaints from White Sox’ Tim Anderson
OF Ryan Cordell among four White Sox roster moves
“My split-finger fastball, I was throwing it wherever I wanted to today,” Gonzalez said.
The Sox signed Gonzalez, 33, to a one-year, $4.75 million contract during the offseason after trading him to the Texas Rangers on Aug. 31. He is expected to start the Sox’ fourth game of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Gonzalez went to the bullpen to throw 10 more pitches after he was pulled from the game.
“I’m ready for the season to start,” Gonzalez said.
“We’re ready to rock and roll.”
Sox power
Yoan Moncada hit a long home run — his third of the spring — that landed near the top of the berm beyond the right-field wall against Taijuan Walker. Tim Anderson doubled, tripled and singled his first three times up. Designated hitter Matt Skole doubled in a run, and Avisail Garcia went 2-for-4.
On the back fields
Danny Farquhar, who will be a middle-to-late-innings reliever, pitched in an intrasquad game against Sox minor-leaguers, going 2 2/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts.
Engel scratched
Center fielder Adam Engel was scratched a second consecutive day with a stiff neck. Engel was replaced by Class A outfielder Joel Booker. Jose Abreu sat out a second straight game with a tight left hamstring.
On deck
Mariners at Sox, Glendale, Casey Lawrence vs. James Shields, 3:05 p.m. Friday, 720-AM, whitesox.com.
