GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The start of the regular season can’t get here fast enough for White Sox starter Reynaldo López.

Lopez, who is slated to pitch the second game of the regular season against the Royals on March 30, is ready to go.

On Tuesday, the right-handed pitcher was charged with two runs on six hits in 6 1/3 solid innings. He walked three batters and struck out two.

“I feel ready for the season,” Lopez said. “After this outing, it reinforced my thoughts on being ready. As starter, you want to go six-plus in every outing and I went into the seventh.”

It all started and ended with Nick Senzel.

The Reds center fielder led off the bottom of the first inning with a double. Lopez recovered to retire the next seven batters in row before walking the pitcher Matt Wisler with one out in the third. Senzel flied out and Joey Votto grounded out to complete another scoreless inning.

In the fifth, Lopez loaded the bases with two outs, but this time, Yasiel Puig stung him with a single that scored two runs to cut the White Sox lead in half, 4-2. He retired the side in order in the sixth. Senzel’s one-out double in the seventh marked the end of the pitcher’s night.

“This was tremendous outing for me,” Lopez said. “All of my pitches were working and I executed my pitches. I missed a few, but it was a very good outing for me.”

Santana set for Sox debut
Veteran right-handed pitcher Ervin Santana will take another step toward winning the fifth spot in the rotation Wednesday when he makes his Cactus League debut against the D-backs.

Santana, who is competing with Manny Banuelos for the final spot, had been pitching in Minor League games on the back fields at Camelback Ranch. He’ll make one more start after Wednesday, possibly Monday or Tuesday against the D-backs at Chase Field.

“I’m ready and staying positive,” Santana, 36, said. “I’m going to go out there and throw strikes.”

Santana had surgery to remove calcium deposits from his right middle finger last February and didn’t pitch with the Twins until late July. He went on to post an 8.03 ERA in five starts while recovering from the finger issue. In 2017, Santana was an All-Star, posting a 16-8 record with a 3.28 ERA, including five complete games and three shutouts.

“More than anything, we want to make sure he can get out of there feeling good and healthy,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “And hopefully give us some more good looks at him and see how he continues to develop for the rest of the spring.”

Santana has plenty of time to get ready. Because of the three scheduled days off during the first nine days of the season, the White Sox won’t need a fifth starter until April 10.

Jay still out of the lineup
Outfielder Jon Jay was out of the lineup for the fifth consecutive game because of a muscular soreness in his hip area Tuesday, but remains optimistic he will be ready for Opening Day.

He could resume Cactus League play Thursday.

“I’m better. It’s just a general Spring Training soreness,” Jay said. “I overworked a little bit and that was on me, but I’m feeling better every day.”

Jay, who agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with the White Sox in January, hit .268 with a .330 on-base percentage and 74 runs scored between stops with Kansas City and Arizona last season. He is slotted for right field, but can play all three spots in the outfield. He is expected to serve as the leadoff hitter.

Jay has been hitting on the Minor League fields, but has not yet played the field. He’ll go through a full workout Wednesday, according to Renteria.

“He feels really good,” Renteria said.

Up Next
Santana will make his Cactus League debut Wednesday against the D-backs at Camelback Ranch.