SURPRISE, Ariz. -- For Jacob Turner, being on the mound and pitching in Cactus League games is a big step over last year's injury-marred season. But he still hopes for results better than what he delivered on Monday.
Turner, a 24-year-old right-hander hoping to make the White Sox rotation coming out of spring, allowed four earned runs on six hits, including two homers, in three innings of work in a 9-3 loss to the Royals in his third outing of the spring.
"Every time I pitch, I try not to give up any runs. I don't care if it's Spring Training or Game 7 of the World Series," Turner said. "Every time I pitch, I'm trying to get results and execute pitches."
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Turner, acquired off waivers from the Cubs in October, spent 2015 rehabbing a strained flexor tendon in his right elbow. He said the arm feels good and he has good life on his fastball, but a few instances of not executing pitches, including the homers to Alex Gordon and Lorenzo Cain, roughed up his pitching line on Monday.
It might be an uphill battle for Turner to make the White Sox rotation out of spring camp with John Danks and Mat Latos in line for the last two spots, and Erik Johnson also in the mix. But Turner's doing what he can to impress the club and show that he can deliver when healthy.
"The stuff has been pretty good, the execution has been a little disappointing at times, especially out of the stretch I feel like," Turner said. "Coming off the injury, I'm happy to be pitching, happy to be competing. A few balls have found holes, but obviously when that happens, you have to bear down and get the next guy out. That's what I'll focus on next time."