Marquez, Heilman each pitch well in White Sox win
Jeff Marquez is off to an impressive start with his new team.
The right-hander turned in his second consecutive scoreless outing, allowing 1 hit and striking out two in 3 innings to help a White Sox split squad beat the Cubs 4-3 on Thursday in Las Vegas.
Josh Kroeger had 3 hits and 4 RBI for the White Sox, who won their second straight over the Cubs in Las Vegas.
The Cubs fell 1 run short in a ninth-inning rally after failing to score in the first eight innings.
Acquired from the New York Yankees in November, Marquez is a longshot to become the White Sox' fifth starter. Still, he's opening eyes this spring.
"I felt real comfortable out there," said the 24-year-old Marquez, who owns a home in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson.
"I got my sinker working better. My curveball was better again. Whether I'm in a starting role or in long relief, I'll go where I'm needed."
Marquez went 8-8 with a 4.47 ERA last season at three different levels in the minors. He was obtained in a five-player trade that sent Nick Swisher to the Yankees.
Both starts for Marquez this spring have come against the Cubs. He pitched 2 scoreless innings in a 13-0 loss Saturday.
Aaron Heilman continued to make his case for the final spot in the Cubs' rotation with 3 scoreless innings. He struck out the side in the second, allowed 1 hit and walked two.
"My changeup is coming along and fastball was strong in the zone," Heilman said. "I didn't feel as sharp as last time, but most misses were good misses."
Heilman was traded twice in the off-season and landed with the Cubs in a January deal with the Seattle Mariners. He was originally traded from the New York Mets to the Mariners in December.
The 30-year-old Heilman went 3-8 with 3 saves and a 5.21 ERA as a reliever last season.
Around the bases: White Sox pitchers Bartolo Colon, Jose Contreras and Ryan Braun each threw approximately 45 pitches in bullpen sessions. Colon had off-season surgery to remove bone chips in his right elbow, Contreras is recovering from a ruptured left Achilles' tendon, and Braun is rehabbing from elbow surgery. ... It was the third of five spring-training games between the cross-town rivals.
Dodgers 5, White Sox 4
Xavier Paul homered in the eighth inning and added an RBI single in the ninth, and Jason Repko capped a 2-run rally with a game-winning single as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat a White Sox split squad at Phoenix. Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda extended a perfect spring, retiring nine of his 10 batters in a sharp 3-inning stint. He has tossed 5 scoreless innings in two appearances, allowing only 2 hits without a walk.
White Sox designated hitter Alexei Ramirez had a big day with 2 singles and a double in 4 at-bats. Corky Miller and shortstop Gordon Beckham slugged solo home runs - Beckham's second of the spring after he was selected No. 8 overall by the Sox in last year's amateur draft.
"He's playing pretty good defense and he's swinging the bat with some pop," said White Sox coach Joey Cora, who managed the split squad. "He's out there playing like he belongs and he's opening eyes, no doubt about it. Tomorrow he's playing second so we can see as much of him as possible."