Gillaspie taking advantage of regular opportunities

CHICAGO -- For a brief moment in the eighth inning of Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Twins, third baseman Conor Gillaspie saved the game.

With the bases loaded and one out, he dove toward the line to snare Wilkin Ramirez's pinch-hit grounder and then threw home from his knees for the force at the plate. Gillaspie came to the White Sox known more as a hitter than a strong defensive player, but has benefited from Spring Training work with third-base coach Joe McEwing and from the regular chance to play in the wake of Gordon Beckham's left wrist injury.

"Once you get an opportunity to play, I think your confidence grows," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura of Gillaspie, who was back at third Sunday. "And for him, I think that's been happening. I think more defensively. Offensively, we knew he could swing it. He had a pretty good spring swinging the bat.

"His thing is he's always willing to do whatever. I think if we asked him to catch, he'd probably do that, too."