White Sox 12, Rockies 6
Lastings Milledge keeps reminding himself of how he made it to the major leagues. It's working this spring.
Milledge hit a pair of home runs and drove in three runs, helping a Chicago White Sox split-squad beat the Colorado Rockies 12-6.
''It's about being aggressive,'' Milledge said. ''Last year I had a totally different approach and I took that aggressiveness away from myself. Being aggressive got me to the majors.''
Milledge led off the game with a sharp single against Ubaldo Jimenez, one of the toughest pitchers in the National League last year. He later scored the first run Jimenez allowed in nine innings. Then he hit the first home run Jimenez has allowed this spring.
''Ozzie (Guillen) lets me be myself,'' said Milledge, who has hit safely in seven straight, going 9 for 22 (.409) with four home runs, seven RBIs and seven runs scored. ''No one tried to change me and I've kept the same approach since playing in Venezuela this winter.''
The 25-year-old outfielder is already with his fourth Major League organization, signing a minor league deal with the White Sox just before camp opened. He appears to have found a home.
Paul Konerko had three hits, including a double, and drove in a run for the White Sox, who had lost four of their last five. Ramon Castro and Jordan Danks each had two RBIs.
Jimenez allowed seven runs on eight hits in 4 1-3 innings. He also walked four and struck out two.
''That will not happen again,'' Jimenez said.
Tony Pena made his sixth appearance and his first start for the White Sox, giving up a run on three hits in two innings. He walked one and struck out one.
Mike McKenry hit a three-run homer and Todd Helton, Jonathan Herrera and Cole Garner each drove in a run for the Rockies.
''We were not real clean today,'' Rockies' manager Jim Tracy said. ''You have to deal with that occasionally.''
Jimenez was particularly upset about issuing a two-out walk to pitcher Jeff Marquez just ahead of Milledge's two-run shot in the fourth that broke a 3-all tie.
''Knowing he was not as sharp as he usually is, the only glitch was going from 0-2 to walking the pitcher,'' Tracy said. ''We had moments where we didn't make good pitches.''
NOTES: Gookie Hawkins hit a two-run home run and Christian Marrero tripled home a run for the White Sox. ... The Rockies recorded their fourth consecutive home sellout with a crowd of 12,347. ... White Sox INF Omar Vizquel had two hits and has nine hits in his last seven games. ... Chicago RHP Jake Peavy received treatment for his illness and remains on schedule to make his next start Saturday. ... The Rockies will have pitchers Jorge De La Rosa and Jhoulys Chacin throw in minor-league games over the next couple of days to allow RHPs Greg Reynolds and John Maine to pitch against major league hitters.