Athletics 12, Sox 4
Keuchel hit hard in final start
White Sox left-hander Dallas Keuchel allowed seven runs on 11 hits in his last start of spring training Friday. Kevin Smith and Sheldon Neuse homered in a six-run inning.
Lined up to be the Sox’ fifth starter, Keuchel walked one and struck out four and had to be pulled in favor of minor-league extra Edgar Navarro with two outs in the third. He finished with two scoreless innings.
“Couldn’t really get command going early, Keuchel said. “So it was tough. But at the same time I liked the way the pitches were moving. It’s going to be about fastball command for me.”
In a team high 11 1⁄3 Cactus League innings, Keuchel gave up 10 earned runs on 19 hits (7.94 ERA), walking five and striking out nine. He will throw in a sim game on Wednesday before the team flies to Detroit in advance of Opening Day Friday.
Limited relief
Liam Hendriks didn’t complete a full inning and lefties Aaron Bummer and Bennett Sousa each gave up home runs. Bummer and Hendriks each recorded two strikeouts, however.
Collins, Foster among roster cuts
Catcher Zack Collins, right-hander Matt Foster, infielder Jake Burger and outfielder Adam Haseley were optioned to Triple-A Charlotte, and infielders Zach Remillard and outfielders Dwight Smith Jr. and Luis Basabe were reassigned to minor league camp. Outfielder Blake Rutherford cleared waivers and was outrighted to Charlotte.
Seby Zavala and Nick Ciuffo are getting the most starts behind Yasmani Grandal but “we still view Zack as having upside and a guy who could potentially help us over the course of the summer,” general manager Rick Hahn said.
Left-handed hitting catcher Nick Ciuffo threw out a runner stealing and had two hits including an RBI single.
On deck
Sox at Diamondbacks, Scottsdale, 8:10 p.m., Lance Lynn (0-0, 10.13) vs. Merrill Kelly (0-0, 0.00).
