Beckham to return Sunday' strained muscle minor issue

TUCSON, Ariz. - The White Sox were hoping the strained muscle in Gordon Beckham's left side was just a minor issue, and that appears to be the case.

Beckham sat out his second straight game Saturday, but he is expected to be back on the field Sunday.

"It's great," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He'll be playing (Sunday). I talked to Hermie (trainer Herm Schneider) and he was excited about where he was. It's nothing bigger than what he thought."

Had he strained his oblique, Beckham likely would have been sidelined much longer. A little more hydration should take care of the ailment.

"It's nothing we have to worry about," Guillen said. "Maybe some soreness, maybe drink some more water to get in his body and get in good shape because we hear he doesn't drink so much water. The doctors say he's ready to go."

Rough day for Peavy, Jenks: Staying back in Phoenix on Saturday and pitching in minor-league games against the Reds, starter Jake Peavy and closer Bobby Jenks both had shaky outings.

In a Class AAA game, Peavy threw 7 innings and allowed 7 runs on 12 hits while throwing 112 pitches.

Peavy said getting work in is more important than numbers.

"That's my biggest thing," he said. "I can't be any more happier getting up and down seven times and throwing well over 100 pitches. I'm ready to go into the season. There are still things to work on, but the biggest thing is when you can get up and down seven times. I'm ready to go eight or nine (innings)."

Jenks pitched 1 scoreless inning in each of his last two Cactus League appearances. On Saturday, the reliever allowed 3 runs on 3 hits in 2 innings in a Double-A game. Jenks also issued a walk and hit a batter.

Start and stop: Minor-league pitcher Matthew Zaleski, who was born in Arlington Heights, attended Driscoll Catholic High School and now resides in North Aurora, didn't start Saturday's Cactus League game against the Rockies as originally scheduled.

But the 28-year-old right-hander did relieve Randy Williams in the second. Zaleski pitched 4 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits. He also had 4 strikeouts.

End of an era: The White Sox likely played their final exhibition game in Tucson on Saturday. The Sox trained here for 11 years (1998-2008) before relocating to Glendale in West suburban Phoenix.

The two remaining teams in Tucson, the Rockies and Diamondbacks, are also moving to the Phoenix area next spring and they'll share a complex near Scottsdale.

Tucson is trying to lure Japanese teams to the area for spring training, and manager Ozzie Guillen said the Sox would gladly travel down to play games.

"I will do that," Guillen said. "I hope they do that. I hope there are two or three Japanese teams and hopefully the Mexican team comes here. I wouldn't mind it at all. I like this city. We won a World Series training here and I got my start managing here."