Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Villanueva hurls four frames in loss to White Sox

MESA, Ariz. -- Paul Konerko hit a pair of solo home runs and Adam Dunn hit a monster two-run shot to power the White Sox to an 8-3 victory on Thursday over the Cubs.

White Sox starter Jose Quintana gave up one run on two hits and one walk over 3 2/3 innings, striking out four in front of 10,647, the largest crowd of the spring at HoHoKam Park.

This was the first of two spring meetings between the intracity rivals, who will square off again March 15 in Glendale. This season, the Cubs and White Sox will meet in a four-game Interleague home and away series, starting May 27 at U.S. Cellular Field.

David DeJesus doubled to lead off the Cubs first and scored one out later on Nate Schierholtz's triple off Quintana. The White Sox tied the game in the third when Jared Mitchell hit a bunt single and scored one out later on Gordon Beckham's double.

Konerko connected for his first homer off Carlos Villanueva, who was making his third Cactus League start. The right-hander, who will open the season in the Cubs' rotation because of injuries to Matt Garza and Scott Baker, gave up two runs on six hits over four innings.

"Konerko, what can I say?" Villanueva said. "I thought that first hit he got [a single in the second] was a very good pitch down and away, and the homer he hit, I was very surprised it went out, but I threw the ball exactly where I wanted to throw it, it was up and in on his hands.

"That's Konerko. That's him," Villanueva said. "Hopefully, [the wind] is blowing in at Wrigley and he'll pop up to left."

Jeff Keppinger doubled to open the White Sox sixth against Barret Loux, and Dunn launched the next pitch to right for his second spring home run. Konerko, who has 20 career regular-season homers against the Cubs, followed with his second blast of the game to put the White Sox ahead, 5-1.

Cubs closer Carlos Marmol was unable to finish an inning, as he was pulled after giving up one hit, walking two and throwing a wild pitch in two-thirds of an inning. Christian Villanueva added a two-run shot for the Cubs in the ninth inning.

Up next: The Cubs will play their first Cactus League night game Friday at 8:05 p.m. CT when they travel to Goodyear to face the Reds. Nick Struck, the Cubs' 2012 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, will get the start. This will be Struck's third spring game and second start. In his last outing, on March 3 against the Angels, he threw three scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out one. The game will be broadcast on Cubs.com.

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings, and you can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat.
Read More: Chicago Cubs