Pomeranz posts solid four innings in defeat
Allows two runs on four hits, fans three; Torrealba homers
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The mound excellence of Drew Pomeranz and Chris Sale had Monday's 3-1 White Sox victory over the Rockies at Camelback Ranch seemingly over almost before it began.
That fact held true for at least the first five innings, which were played in a crisp one hour and 18 minutes. The Rockies could do precious little against the White Sox southpaw, as Sale needed just 50 pitches to complete those first five, with 31 of them going for strikes.
Yorvit Torrealba broke up Sale's shutout leading off the sixth, launching his first Cactus League home after working the count full. Sale's day ended one pitch later when Tyler Colvin beat out an infield hit up the middle.
For the afternoon, marking Sale's second Cactus League start, Sale allowed one run on three hits, while striking out two and not issuing a walk.
"Yeah, today was one of those clicking-on-all-cylinders days," Sale said. "My arm felt free, felt loose. It felt like I had good command of all my pitches. Just a good day. Had some fun out there and just relaxed and went out and attacked the zone."
Pomeranz was just about as tough as Sale, yielding two runs on four hits over four innings. He fanned three and walked two.
"Obviously, things went real well in the first inning, the curveball was good, the changeup was good," Pomeranz said of striking out the side in the first inning. "Everything's good right now.
Paul Konerko continued his torrid Arizona hitting with a home run on the first pitch of the second inning from Pomeranz. It was his fifth long ball since Spring Training action began. The White Sox added a run in the third on Angel Sanchez's triple and Gordon Beckham's single.
It could have been a greater rally for the White Sox. But with runners on the corners, nobody out and Adam Dunn at the plate, Jordan Danks was picked off third base by Torrealba.
Up next: Right-hander Tyler Chatwood (1-1, 5.63 ERA), hoping to push for a rotation spot or bullpen work in the Majors, will start against the D-backs at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Tuesday. Onetime D-backs stalwart Miguel Batista is scheduled to pitch in his attempt to make the club as a non-roster invitee.