Versatile Bourgeois having 'good at-bats'

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Jason Bourgeois first started attracting the White Sox' attention last season, when he hit a combined .306 and stole 38 bases at Class AA Birmingham and AAA Charlotte.

Equipped with standout speed and capable of playing multiple positions, Bourgeois is drawing even more notice this spring.

That trend continued Sunday when the 26-year-old prospect went 4-for-4 in the Sox' 12-5 split-squad loss to the Diamondbacks at Tucson Electric Park.

"He's making an impression on our whole coaching staff,'' said bench coach Joey Cora. "Good at-bats, he can run and he can play all over the place.''

Bourgeois was in center field Sunday, but he can also play left, second base and third base.

"We'll throw him out there at shortstop and second base and see what's up,'' Cora said.

Bourgeois' big day upped his Cactus League average to .583 (7-for-12). Originally selected by the Texas Rangers in the second round of the 2000 draft, Bourgeois was signed as a free agent by the White Sox prior to last season.

"He's making us notice him,'' Cora said. "It's similar to what (Pablo) Ozuna did in 2005, getting hits, playing all over the place, scoring runs.''

Something wild: Javier Vazquez made his first Cactus League start Sunday and allowed 5 runs (4 earned) on 5 hits and 2 walks over 2½ innings.

"The worst part isn't getting hit or giving up home runs,'' Vazquez said. "The worst part is when you are all over the place like I was today. I mean getting behind the hitters, being behind almost every hitter, that's the worst part about it.''

Vazquez wasn't much better last spring, going 0-4 with an 8.00 ERA. The right-hander rebounded and went 15-8 with a 3.74 ERA during the regular season.

"I'm here to work on stuff and get ready for the season, and last year was the same way,'' Vazquez said. "I'm going to forget about this and the next time out I'm going to try and do my job. The most important thing is trying to locate and get ahead of the hitters, and that was basically the worst part about today, not doing that.''

Diamondbacks 12-7, White Sox 5-6

White Sox' record: 3-3

At the plate: Against the Diamondbacks in Hermosillo, Mexico, Nick Swisher hit 2 solo home runs. In Tucson, Jason Bourgeois was 4-for-4. Pablo Ozuna was 2-for-5.

On the mound: In Hermosillo, starter Nick Masset pitched 3 scoreless innings. In Tucson, starter Javier Vazquez pitched 2½ innings and allowed 5 runs (4 earned) on 5 hits.

Next: John Danks starts against the Royals today in Surprise.