Dallas Keuchel was removed by manager Tony La Russa with two outs in the first inning of Thursday’s 9-7 White Sox victory over the Royals at Camelback Ranch after allowing four runs.

Needless to say, the veteran southpaw, who was making his first 2021 Cactus League start, was not happy with the decision. But Keuchel also didn’t realize he could re-enter the game in the second.

“I know the rule of you can roll the innings, so I was very confused with Tony coming out, taking the ball,” Keuchel said. “I'm trying to get my work in, but I had no idea what was going on. So when I got in the dugout, I was pretty heated, and [pitching coach Ethan] Katz came up to me pretty quickly and said, ‘Hey, relax. You're going back out there,’ and I was like, ‘What?’

“Then he explained to me the situation. It was weird, but I actually like it a lot more because you kind of take care of the starters, especially to kind of limit their pitches, because ultimately you're just trying to get ready for the regular season. Definitely weird, but it was actually kind of nice.”

Keuchel allowed five runs on five hits in what amounted to 2 1/3 innings, with one strikeout and two walks. He had been working in simulated games and through live bullpen sessions on the White Sox back fields, and he admitted to being a little amped up pitching in front of the 2,275 fans.

With two more starts before taking the mound in Game 2 of the regular season on April 2, Keuchel will continue to climb after his 54-pitch effort against the Royals.

“There's always doubt in the back of your mind, especially kind of when you start later,” Keuchel said. “But I'm actually glad I had some stressful pitches early and all the things I want to check off because I don't really want to go three innings and 30 pitches, because ultimately I'm trying to get volume.

“Really, the only way to get volume in is kind of give up some base hits, ground balls, I gave up a hard hit, was consistently in the stretch. So I'm checking off all these boxes that I actually need to do to make it through six, seven innings a start in the regular season. I'm going to enjoy these five days more than any other time in spring just because I'm sure I'll be sore tomorrow, but it's going to be that kind of I'm ready, getting back into the full bore in the grand scheme of things.”

Grandal catching on

Yasmani Grandal also made his first 2021 Cactus League start behind the plate Thursday, marking continued progress from a right knee injury sustained when he twisted it during running drills on Feb. 24. Grandal caught three innings and went 0-for-2 while hitting second.

“I was excited just to be able to catch again,” Grandal said. “I had way too much adrenaline because things were going way too fast. As the innings went on, I started kind of slowing it down. But it was a good day. Felt good. So we'll continue to keep on working and building the innings.”

Grandal said there’s no pain, but the White Sox will keep monitoring the situation. Otherwise, it’s more about strength and endurance as he tries to get prepared for Opening Day.

“It's going to be day to day,” Grandal said. “It's going to be how much workload can we get in and seeing how the knee reacts. So far it's been good, but we're definitely not going to be pushing it too hard, just in case.

“I've been getting [at-bats] in ‘B’ games, trying to see more lefties to be able to hit righty. I think those were my first two [at-bats against a left-handed pitcher] so far. Hopefully in the next week or two we'll get enough repetitions in to feel comfortable going into the season.”

Third to first

• Adam Engel doubled, tripled and homered, and he had a chance in the seventh for a rare Cactus League cycle, though he struck out swinging.

• Andrew Vaughn, the White Sox top prospect, blasted a solo home run to left off Ervin Santana in the eighth inning of Thursday’s victory. The White Sox listed the distance at 429 feet.

• Yoelqui Cespedes hit a three-run home run during a 10-3 White Sox victory over the Padres in a “B” game Thursday. Cespedes is the No. 6 White Sox prospect, per MLB Pipeline.

• Yoán Moncada has reached base safely in 11 straight Cactus League games.

• Thursday marked the 40th anniversary of when Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk left the Red Sox and signed as a free agent with the White Sox. Fisk would play 13 years in Chicago, hitting 214 homers.

He said it
“You know, it's fun. It wasn't fun giving up runs, it's never fun to give up runs, but in the moment in Spring Training, you can kind of let yourself enjoy the moment. This is what I love.” -- Keuchel