GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Pat Valaika’s three-run home run off of Carlos Rodon in the second inning of an 10-6 Cactus League victory for the White Sox over the Rockies on Saturday left Rodon a little less than pleased.

“After giving up that slider homer, I definitely wanted to punch something,” Rodon said. “But with all the young guys around, probably didn’t need to do that the first time out. I’m glad I kept it collected.”

Rodon’s first Cactus League start covered three innings, with that one poor pitch accounting for the three runs allowed. He struck out two, walked one and continued moving toward a potential Opening Day start in Kansas City as a healthy rotation staple.

“Command was pretty good,” said Rodon, who saw his velocity ranging from 88-93 mph on the Camelback Ranch scoreboard. “A lot of fastballs, a lot of four-seams.

“Worked on some backdoor sliders. Just got everything I need to do done. A couple of yanked changeups. The next time out we’ll lead with those and bring the slider in after it. Today was good, real healthy, nice and smooth.”

Anderson’s hot start

A second-inning single and a third-inning double from Tim Anderson gave the White Sox shortstop seven hits in his first 14 at-bats, including one home run, one triple and two doubles. His offseason work has paid early dividends.

“My timing was off a little bit in the box, and I feel like I corrected that a little bit,” Anderson said. “I’m swinging the bat good this spring. I feel like I’m in a good position.”

Anderson keeps his season goals private. But he feels as if his mission was accomplished in looking back at 2018.

“I was right on a little bit,” Anderson said. “My batting average needs to be up and I expect more from myself but have been working a lot and I think those numbers are going to improve.”

Adolfo announces his return with authority

After getting medically cleared to return offensively to game action, Micker Adolfo didn’t wait long to make an impact during Saturday’s intrasquad game on the White Sox back fields at Camelback Ranch. The team’s No. 8 prospect per MLB Pipeline homered on a 3-1 pitch from Thyago Vieira in his first at-bat and closed his day’s work with another home run off of Minor Leaguer Luis Martinez.

“As a hitter you always have to be ready for that fastball,” Adolfo said. “That’s what I hit, the fastball. That [first] at-bat, I was just looking for fastballs. I wasn’t going to swing at anything else since it was my first at-bat.

“Good start to Spring Training. I’m definitely feeling good. I just have to keep working on some things and getting better. The work is not done.”

Adolfo, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, hopes to be back playing outfield by mid-June. But he will get some Cactus League at-bats at designated hitter.

“I’m ready,” said a smiling Adolfo. “I’m just happy to be back out there and ready to pick up where I left off.”

Injury updates

Outfielder Brandon Guyer took batting practice Saturday after being sidelined by right elbow soreness. White Sox manager Rick Renteria hopes to get Guyer into action as a designated hitter in the next few days if the veteran responds well to Saturday’s work.

“We gradually will get him back into a throwing program and try to transition him back into being able to play in games,” said Renteria of the non-roster invite. “We want to make sure that calmed down so he could swing the bat.

“Once we realized it was bothering him a little bit to swing, we pulled that back and did what we needed to do to calm that down. It seems to be going in the right direction.”

Daniel Palka, who has been sidelined with a tight left hamstring since leaving last Sunday’s contest against the Padres, took some swings in Saturday's intrasquad game. He didn’t do any running but tested that area by doing sprint work on the treadmill Friday and hopes to work on turns Sunday.

“Timing felt good, stress free on the hammy,” Palka said. “Everything is moving in the right direction.”

They said it

“We have a chance to shock some people. We’ll see what happens. The White Sox are doing a great job bringing good people in this locker room, great personalities to fit in with us.” -- Anderson on his 2019 White Sox outlook

Up Next

Manny Banuelos struck out four over two innings during his first start against the Giants and will get a second opportunity when he takes the mound Sunday against the Cubs. The contest at Sloan Park has a 1:05 p.m. MT first pitch and marks the first of six times the crosstown rivals play each other this season.