TUCSON, Ariz.—Back on the mound after the birth of his daughter, Javier Vazquez pitched five shutout innings Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies.
The White Sox right-hander allowed one hit while striking out seven in his second spring start. He retired the last nine batters he faced in Chicago’s 4-1 victory.
Vazquez missed his last scheduled appearance when he went home to Puerto Rico for the birth of his daughter, Kariana Isabel, on March 4.
“Oh man, believe me, it was really tough leaving,” Vazquez said. “It’s OK, they will be in Chicago in April.”
Despite being away from camp for six days, Vazquez said he worked out, threw a simulated game and tried to stay sharp for his return.
He was more effective than in his other spring appearance, when he was rocked for five runs and five hits while walking two and allowing a pair of home runs to Arizona.
“An outing like this, we need that from him from the get-go,” manager Ozzie Guillen said. “The last outing for him was rough. Coming out and throwing the way he did, it put him back on track.”
Vazquez struck out the side in the first inning and then had two more strikeouts and a harmless fly ball after Yorvit Torrealba opened the third inning with a triple.
“Everything was working. I threw all my pitches. That is something I wanted to do. I wanted to throw the curveball and the changeup and slider, cutter, and everything. The last time I went out there I was basically just throwing a lot of fastballs,” Vazquez said. “I wanted to get a feel for all my pitches today.”
Colorado starter Kip Wells gave up four runs and nine hits with three strikeouts in five innings.
The right-hander was around the plate more, which was important for him after he walked seven batters in his previous nine innings. Wells didn’t walk any Chicago batters.
“I threw strikes and eliminated the base on balls and free passes,” Wells said. “I made a few mistakes up in the zone. I can keep the ball down at times more consistently than I did.”
Wells, who signed in December as a free agent, is competing for a spot in the rotation despite going 7-17 with a 5.70 ERA last season with St. Louis.
If Wells does not emerge as a starter, he could wind up as a long reliever.
“I’m stretching myself out with the intention of starting until I am told otherwise,” Wells said.
Orlando Cabrera and Nick Swisher did most of the damage against Wells. Cabrera was 2-for-4 on the day, while Swisher was 2-for-3.
White Sox third baseman Josh Fields broke out of a slump by going 3-for-4, and Brian Anderson homered for the second consecutive game.
Colorado managed six hits, with Torrealba going 2-for-3 with a double and a triple.
Notes:@ Colorado RHP Aaron Cook, scratched from his last scheduled start on Friday, threw three innings in an intrasquad game against minor leaguers. Cook, bothered by inflammation in his right shoulder, allowed four hits, struck out three and threw 42 pitches, 27 for strikes. … Rockies right-hander Luis Vizcaino allowed one hit in one inning, striking out one in the intrasquad scrimmage after being bothered by inflammation in his right elbow. He has not pitched in a Cactus League game since March 4. … The Rockies didn’t have OF Brad Hawpe in the starting lineup again because of a sore right elbow. … Chicago kept OF Jerry Owens out of the lineup due to recurring soreness in his right groin, which has limited his play since Feb. 25. He is day to day.
