SOX 4, PADRES 3

Madrigal returns

Second baseman Nick Madrigal didn’t play his first game until March 8, slowrolling his return following left shoulder surgery after the season. Then he had to take another eight days because of a sore right thumb. He returned Wednesday.

“Nothing serious, just took a couple days to let it die down,” he said.

Madrigal got into the flow early, ranging in front of second to make a nice play on a ground ball and making two other plays. At the plate, he was 0-for-3 including a lineout to second base.

With two weeks of games left, Madrigal said he expects to be ready “health-wise and timing-wise” by Opening Day.

“The next couple of days I’ll be in there a lot more,” Madrigal said.

Streaking (sort of)

The Sox (4-8-4) are unbeaten in their last four games, thanks toa Luis Gonzalez RBI single in the ninth and Ryan Burr’s perfect save with two strikeouts. Catcher Zack Collins (.421) was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored, first baseman Andrew Vaughn (.273) was 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.

Jake Burger, among 13 roster cuts after the game, homered against the Dodgers in a B game — in which catcher Yasmani Grandal got at-bats as the DH.

“Plus-plus”

Carlos Rodon’s three scoreless innings Tuesday was the highlight. It followed three scoreless innings by Dylan Cease, the likely No. 4 starter, against the Cubs Monday.

“He had a good assortment going and great composure, which is very important,” manager Tony La Russa said of Cease. “Plus-plus performance.”

On deck

Dodgers vs. Sox, 3:05 p.m. Wednesday, Glendale, NBCSCH, 1000-AM, Walker Buehler vs. Lucas Giolito. The Sox are in their starting rotation sequence, with Dallas Keuchel starting Thursday vs. the Royals, Lance Lynn Friday vs. the Mariners and Cease Saturday vs. the Indians.