SOX 8, Angels 7
Giolito tunes up for first start
Probable Opening Day starter Lucas Giolito, whose start to spring training was delayed by a muscle strain near his ribcage, threw live batting practice as he gets on track for March 26 against the Royals. On four days rest, Giolito could begin a sequence of four starts Friday against the Cubs as he ramps up for the opener in Chicago.
“We’ve got enough time for him to be ready if we don’t have any snags,” pitching coach Don Cooper said.
Giolito threw two 15-pitch segments, one from the stretch, facing Yasmani Grandal and James McCann. Grandal hit two drives off the fence, although he might have had an idea what pitches were coming. Overall, Giolito was pleased.
‘I’m happy with the health,” Giolito said. “With everything, my arm feels really good. Body feels really good. I felt pretty in sync today with my mechanics, but for a couple of things to kind of harp on but yeah, it was it was a good day.”
Mercedes’ mixed bag
Catcher Yermin Mercedes, who already had two long home runs this spring, roped a double into the left-center field gap in an eight-run fourth inning (all runs charged to Neil Ramirez) and reached on third baseman Anthony Rendon’s error. An entertaining 5-for-12 in Cactus League games, Mercedes’ offense will have to override defensive shortcomings to win a roster spot. Mercedes misjudged a pop-up that fell for a single and should have been charged with at least one passed ball on two wild pitches charged to Ian Hamilton.
Pitchers’ mixed bag
Ross Detwiler, who made 12 starts last season but is likely ticketed for AAA Charlotte, gave up a three-run homer to Rendon and six runs over 2 1⁄3 innings. Prospects Cody Heuer (perfect inning, one strikeout) and Bernardo Flores (two perfect innings, four strikeouts) were better against Angels prospects.
On deck
Padres at Sox, Glendale, 2:05 p.m., whitesox.com, TBA vs. Dallas Keuchel. Aaron Bummer, Steve Cishek, Jimmy Cordero, Kelvin Herrera, Alex Colome and Zack Burdi are also scheduled to pitch. There is a B game at the Brewers.
