GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Veteran starter Ervin Santana made his Cactus League debut against the D-backs on Wednesday and that’s exactly what it looked like.
Santana, who is competing against Manny Banuelos for the final spot in the rotation behind Carlos Rodon, Reynaldo Lopez, Lucas Giolito, and Ivan Nova, was charged with four runs on eight hits in four innings. He also struck out three and walked two batters.
He could pitch Monday or Tuesday against the D-backs in the final games in Arizona.
“Everything feels good,” Santana said. “I was up and down in the zone. ... To me, it was a normal first start. It doesn’t matter if it is the end or the beginning of Spring Training. It was the first start, and there were a lot of good results.”
Santana didn’t have the best command of his pitches, but still retired the side in order to start the game. He gave up a pair of hits in the second frame, and sat the D-backs down in order again in the third. He ran into trouble in the fourth and gave up five hits, including a three-run home run to Alex Avila, to put the D-backs ahead, 4-0.
The native of the Dominican Republic was pulled after giving up a single to Christian Walker to start the fifth. His fastball hovered in the 90-91 mph range, just a tick below the 90-92 mph he showed in his last “B” game start.
Santana still has time to sharpen his command. The White Sox won’t need a fifth starter until April 10 because of the three scheduled off-days during the first nine days of the season.
Jones looks to bounce back
Nate Jones has struggled this spring, and is hoping a recent bullpen session will help him get back on track.
So far, he’s allowed eight runs on 11 hits -- including four home runs -- in 4 2/3 Cactus League innings. He faced five hitters and gave up two runs in one-third of an inning against the D-backs in his last outing. He didn’t record an out against the Cubs in the outing before that.
“People can say the numbers don’t matter all they want, but you have to have the results, too,” Jones said. “The last two outings have been the ones I have been frustrated with the most, because the strikes weren’t there consistently enough.”
The 33-year-old right-hander is scheduled to pitch next on Friday against the Angels at Tempe Diablo. Alex Colome and Kelvin Herrera, who are also competing for the closer’s job, are scheduled to pitch Thursday against the Rangers at Camelback Ranch.
“[Jones] has a history of doing very, very well,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “We’re going to continue to give him his last two innings of work in the spring. I don’t know exactly what days they are, but hopefully they’re good ones. Once the season starts, he’s out there helping us try to close out some ballgames.”
Jones’ 2018 season was slowed by a pronator muscle strain, and in April of '17 he had season-ending ulnar nerve repositioning surgery on his right elbow. He missed all of 2014, and all but 19 games in 2015 after a microdiscectomy procedure to alleviate back discomfort, followed by Tommy John surgery in '14.
“I have no question about my arm and my health and where it’s at,” Jones said. “Body strength-wise, I’m in a great place.”
Moncada adjusts
Yoan Moncada is making the most of Spring Training.
The young infielder struck out 217 times last season, and ended up batting .235/.315/.400. He’s struck out 13 times this spring, but he also has a .333 batting average, with pair of home runs and eight walks, entering play on Wednesday.
According to Statcast, Moncada led the big leagues in strikeouts on borderline pitches last season with a total of 137; 60 of which were called strikeouts.
“One of the things we’ve been wanting to improve upon for him is his right-handed at-bats,” Renteria said. “He’s been pretty good. I think he’s having some good at-bats; I think he’s playing some solid defense. He’s continuing to work. We’re hoping this is a nice season for him. Not only for him, but for us.”
A family affair
D-backs outfielder Alek Thomas’ Cactus League debut was one to remember. It was one his father, White Sox strength coach Allen Thomas, will never forget.
Thomas, who is ranked Arizona's No. 6 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, exchanged lineup cards with his father at home plate before the first pitch of Wednesday’s game. In the matchup, he played in both left field and center field, and went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in the ninth inning.
“That was a great moment,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “As a parent myself, you are always looking for those types of things to happen to your child. You hear about them on the telephone because you never really cross paths because you are dad in baseball. But when you can watch your son do something that special on the baseball field, I’m sure he’s feeling pretty amazing right now.”
Giolito struggles
Lucas Giolito made his first appearance out of the bullpen this spring in Wednesday's 11-2 loss to the D-backs. The 24-year-old right hander finished four innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Giolito allowed a pair of three-run homers, one to Alex Avila -- his second of the game -- and one to Thomas.
Up next
Ivan Nova is scheduled to start against the Rangers on Thursday at Camelback Ranch at 3:05 p.m. CDT. Colome, Herrera, Josh Osich and Jace Frye are also scheduled to pitch. Carlos Rodon is slated to pitch Friday against the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium.