Nick Martinez struggles in Rangers' loss to White Sox
SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) -- Jose Quintana pitched into the fifth inning in his first outing, Jerry Sands homered and drove in four runs and a Chicago White Sox split squad defeated the Texas Rangers 8-2 Thursday.
Quintana did not allow a hit until a one-out single in the fourth to Ian Desmond, who scored on Elvis Andrus' two-out single. Drew Robinson homered off Quintana in the fifth.
"I try to keep the keep the ball down today for the first time on the mound," Quintana said. "I'm happy for this day for me. I try to get quick outs. That's what I try to do every time I go to the mound."
Quintana threw 40 strikes in 61 pitches, walking none and striking out three in 4 1/3 innings.
Sands hit a three-run homer against Nick Martinez in a five-run first. Avasial Garcia hit RBI doubles in the first and third innings, raising his average to .529 with a team-high nine RBIs.
"I've got to get comfortable first before the season starts," said Garcia, who changed his batting stance.
Tyler Saladino also homered for the White Sox.
STARTING TIME
White Sox: Quintana did not get much run support last year, 3.62 runs per start, the second lowest among AL starters. He had a five-run lead when he took the mound Thursday. "It feels good especially early in the game," Quintana said. "It feels good when you've got support."
Rangers: Martinez, competing for a rotation slot, faced 14 batters in two-plus innings and eight reached base: on two singles, four doubles, one home run and a walk. He allowed seven runs and seven hits.
"I fell behind some hitters, and that compounded things,": he said. "I felt good. I felt cool, calm and collected, but a few pitches got away from me."
FINALLY A FLY BALL
Rangers LF Ian Desmond, a converted shortstop, did not have a fly ball in his first four outfield starts covering 19 innings. The streak ended after 23 innings when he caught Todd Frazier's routine fly leading off the fifth.
ON THE BACK FIELDS
Rangers LHP Cole Hamels, Martin Perez and Jake Diekman threw against the Padres in a minor league game. Hamels gave up two runs and two hits, including a home run, one walk and a hit batter, throwing 44 pitches. Perez yielded three runs, four hits and a walk in two innings. Diekman threw eight strikes in nine pitches in a scoreless inning, allowing one hit. RHP Colby Lewis will start Saturday in a "B" game against the White Sox.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: DH-1B Adam LaRoche (back spasms) has not played since Saturday, when his back locked during a swing.
Rangers: RHP Shawn Tolleson (lower back spasms) threw a bullpen session with no issues. . 1B Ike Davis (mild right knee sprain) missed his second straight game. . 2B Rougned Odor (tight right oblique) is day to day after being scratched Tuesday.
UP NEXT
White Sox: LHP Carlos Rodon, who pitched three scoreless innings and allowed one hit against San Diego in his first outing, is to start against the Padres.
Rangers: RHP Nick Tepesch, who has allowed three runs, four hits and three walks over four innings in his first two appearances, is slated to pitch against Milwaukee.
