Peavy looks sharp in first start for White Sox
TEMPE, Ariz. – Jake Peavy's first spring training outing looked more like a regular-season start.
He was that sharp, and showed no signs of fatigue from jamming at his late-night "Woodjock" charity concert Thursday that drew some 1,200 people.
The Chicago White Sox also looked impressive at the plate in a 10-7 victory against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday, getting two-run homers from Gordon Beckham and Alex Rios in a split-squad game.
Peavy finally got to take the mound in the desert. His first scheduled start Sunday was rained out, though he still made the most of the day by throwing a bullpen session in the cage against live hitters.
The 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner for San Diego has said the right ankle trouble that limited him last season is a thing of the past — and it sure seems that way.
Peavy struck out three in three scoreless innings, allowing two hits in an efficient 38-pitch performance.
"I got some work in, nothing special, but I needed to get out there versus hitters and versus competition," Peavy said. "I was able to get outs, that was about it. I'm trying to get the arm in shape."
Peavy stuck mostly to fastballs, throwing about six off-speed pitches and five in a row at one point. He had a scare with two out in the first, when Torii Hunter's hard-hit single up the middle glanced off his left shoulder.
"It was six or so inches from hitting me in the face," Peavy said. "That was scary. It hit my left shoulder and my reaction, I almost ducked my head into it. It could have gotten ugly. If that had hit square, you go 'Here we go again.'"
After Hunter's single, Peavy recorded five straight outs before allowing his only other hit, to Gary Patchett.
Beckham hit an RBI double in the first and his first homer of the spring in the second as the White Sox staked Peavy to a 5-0 lead. Chicago produced seven straight extra-base hits after Jordan Danks led off the game with a single.
"Save a few of those for the regular season, we'll take our chances," said Peavy, Chicago's No. 2 starter behind ace Mark Buehrle after he encouraged the club to go with Buehrle for opening day.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia was eager to evaluate Peavy's first start. The 28-year-old right-hander made only three starts for the White Sox after they acquired him at the 2009 All-Star break from San Diego. But he won all three of those appearances after missing three months for the Padres while recovering from an ankle injury.
"Sometimes a spring pitcher when you see him in March and when you see him in June, it's two different animals," Scioscia said. "It is nice to see a guy, see his delivery, get a little bit of scouting on him as far as pitches he has. But usually right now most pitchers aren't a finished product. A guy like Peavy, he's a veteran, he knows what he's doing and he's going to start to stage up and get ready for the season."
Chicago closer Bobby Jenks, on the other hand, doesn't look so ready. He followed up a shaky inning against the Dodgers on March 6 — two earned runs, two hits, two walks — by getting clobbered for five runs and four hits in 2-3 of an inning.
Peavy is eager to get in a couple more spring starts and then move on to the real thing. He said the White Sox consider themselves the favorites in the AL Central.
"This has been as refreshing of a move as I hoped it would have been," Peavy said. "I've never been a part of anything like this. I'm very pleased where I'm at. I'm as excited for this season as any season ever."
NOTES: Peavy wasn't sure yet how much money his concert raised for several different charities, but he hopes to make it an annual thing during spring training. "I'm not sure of the amount but I got a big thumbs up when I walked out," Peavy said. "I want to thank everybody for coming out. It was an incredible event. I'm happy to have my name on it." ... Angels RHP Scot Shields allowed one hit in one inning with a strikeout in his first outing since left knee surgery last June. "The knee felt good," the reliever said. "I get nervous every time I pitch. I don't care where it is or who it is. But there was a little something extra there today." ... Manager Ozzie Guillen and the other half of the White Sox flew to Las Vegas for twogames against the Cubs. Bench coach Joey Cora managed the Sox in this one. ... Beckham entered the game batting .143.
