Sox' Jordan Danks shines; Giants slam Cubs

Ben Sheets still looks like a pitcher who hasn't worked at the big-league level in nearly a year and a half.

His command isn't quite there and his fastball velocity is slightly down. He is unfazed, because Sheets has never been one to post big spring numbers.

Oakland's new $10 million ace still considered his short outing in a 9-5 loss Wednesday to the White Sox in Phoenix a step in the right direction. He regularly threw his change-up.

Sheets, who missed all of 2009 recovering from elbow surgery, allowed 6 runs - 5 earned - on 5 hits with a walk in 22/3 innings of his second spring start.

White Sox right fielder Jordan Danks made a pretty diving catch on Rajai Davis' hard liner leading off the fifth, giving manager Ozzie Guillen plenty to think about when it comes to where to send the club's top-five prospect. He might be headed for a promotion to Triple-A Charlotte - and his defense already is considered good enough to be at the major-league level.

He went 1-for-2 with a walk Wednesday and scored a run, and also stung the ball on a lineout to left in the fourth. Danks is the brother of Sox starting pitcher John Danks.

"Jordan has really really impressed us a lot. He's pretty special," Guillen said. "He's got a chance to be in the big leagues and play. This kid has good at-bats, good base-running. Maybe the best outfielder we have in our minor-league system.

"If we need somebody down from the minor leagues, I think this kid is one we'll really take a look at. He's not going to be embarrassed. He knows how to play. He's a tremendous defensive player."

Giants 5, Cubs 1: Pablo Sandoval now has bragging rights over Carlos Zambrano, the pitcher he grew up idolizing back home in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela. Still, the Giants third baseman isn't ready to boast just yet.

"I'm not going to tell him anything," Sandoval said Wednesday after his grand slam off Zambrano led San Francisco to a 5-1 victory over the Cubs in Mesa. "I don't want to remember that. That's spring training."

With three All-Star Game appearances, Zambrano used to be just that, but he won only nine games last season. So he worked out hard over the winter and arrived to camp in top shape. He said he wasn't the least bit discouraged after giving up 5 third-inning runs on 3 soft singles, a hit batter and Sandoval's homer.

"They got lucky with bloopers, and their big man ... obviously, he's a good hitter. I have to give him credit," Zambrano said. "This is spring training. Just get my work in and build my arm. My fastball is running good and all my pitches are good."