Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Third to first

• With his two homers among his three hits in Thursday's 8-3 victory over the Cubs, White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko has hits in his last six at-bats.

• Jesse Crain tested his strained right adductor while throwing off of a mound Thursday. Manager Robin Ventura believes Crain could be in a game "before too long."

"It was more precautionary to have him not go to the Canadian team," said Ventura of Crain, who pulled out of the World Baseball Classic because of the injury and has pitched in one Cactus League game. "He wanted to go, but I think with where he was, it's better for him not to go."

• Reliever Leyson Septimo left Thursday's victory with two outs in the ninth inning after allowing a two-run homer to Christian Villanueva and getting Darnell McDonald to ground out. Septimo was complaining about his arm, according to Ventura.

"It's one of those where you don't take any chances and get him out," Ventura said. "That was a pretty quick decision."

• Ventura has no set date to announce his Opening Day starter, although it is expected to be Chris Sale.

• Jeff Keppinger finished 1-for-3 with a double hitting in the third spot Thursday. Ventura doesn't want too much to be read into anything with the White Sox Cactus League batting order, aside from Keppinger's versatility.

"The way he handles the bat, he can really bat anywhere. He moves it around, doesn't strike out much," Ventura said. "Putting him in the middle, it works. It's a good time with [Alex] Rios being out that you kind of move around different guys in the lineup."

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, and follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin.
Read More: Chicago White Sox, Paul Konerko, Chris Sale, Jose Quintana