GLENDALE, Ariz. — John Danks got some grief from a few of his fellow Chicago White Sox pitchers when he arrived at the ballpark Thursday.
“They made sure to let me know all morning that starters haven’t given up a hit,” he said.
Danks can join in the fun now.
The left-hander tossed two hitless innings in his spring debut and the White Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 6-1 Thursday for their first spring training win.
Danks walked two of the eight batters he faced, but was otherwise pleased with his 37-pitch outing.
“I’m tied with Edwin in walks. That’s pretty embarrassing,” Danks cracked as fellow starter Edwin Jackson walked by. “The walks … the first thing (pitching coach Don Cooper) said in the dugout, he made sure to reiterate that that wasn’t going to fly.”
Gavin Floyd, Mark Buehrle and Jackson also turned in hitless starts for the White Sox this week.
Adam Dunn also had a nice day for Chicago, appearing at first base in his first time in the field this spring and registering his first hit in a White Sox uniform, a single in the fourth inning. He came around to score when Alex Rios went deep for Chicago’s first homer this spring.
Coming into camp, Dunn was concerned about having too much down time in his new role as designated hitter.
“He’s going to feel uncomfortable a lot,” manager Ozzie Guillen said, laughing. “He’s not going to play in the field that much.”
Guillen said he still doesn’t know exactly how much he plans on using Dunn in the field, though he has previously estimated once or twice a week.
Luke French threw three scoreless innings for Seattle, allowing two hits and striking out two. French is competing for a spot in the Mariners’ rotation.
It was a big improvement from his spring debut, when he allowed two runs and six hits in two innings on Sunday against the Padres.
The Mariners’ lone run came on a bases-loaded walk in the sixth inning. They went hitless in 12 chances with runners in scoring position.
NOTES: White Sox RHP Jake Peavy will make his spring debut Friday against the Angels. … With Dunn at the plate, French picked off Gordon Beckham at first base to end the third inning. … Seattle DH Milton Bradley went 1 for 2, making him 5 for 8 (.625) so far this spring.
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