Sands gets final spot on roster
Ventura likes his track record vs. lefties
SAN DIEGO — Outfielder/ first baseman Jerry Sands was named as the last man to make the White Sox’ Opening Day roster, three days before the season opener Monday against the Athletics in Oakland, California.
‘‘ Jerry will be going [ to Oakland],’’ manager Robin Ventura said before the Sox played the Padres in the first of two exhibitions Friday at Petco Park. ‘‘ These aren’t easy decisions. But knowing what you’re going to need, these are the guys you take.’’
Sands, a right- handed hitter who hit three home runs in Cactus League games, also can play third base in a pinch. Left- handedhitting Travis Ishikawa, a playoff hero for the Giants two years ago and a better glove man than Sands at first, also was considered, but the Sox appeared to have Sands in their plan all along.
‘‘ He can come off the bench and hit a lefty; he’s had great numbers always against lefties,’’ Ventura said. ‘‘ In the past, we haven’t had that great of a look from that side when they bring in a lefty from the bullpen. He does a lot of things we’ve been looking for.’’
One thing the Sox were looking for against the Padres was an encouraging start from right- hander Mat Latos, who is slated to start their fourth regular- season game. Latos, who was coming off two rough starts, pitched four scoreless innings before allowing three runs in the fifth. He allowed five hits, struck out three and walked three in 4„ innings. He’ll take a 10.38 ERA in three exhibition starts into the season.
Jose Abreu added to his good numbers in the spring with his fifth homer and the Sox’ 50th, a tworun shot against the Padres’ Kevin Quackenbush. Todd Frazier tripled into the right- field corner and scored on a groundout by Melky Cabrera.
Sands, whom the Sox claimed off waivers from the Indians in December, is a career .292 hitter with a .506 slugging percentage against lefties. He hit .297 with a .500 slugging percentage against lefties with the Indians last season.
‘‘ I didn’t have the greatest camp in the world, but I felt I accomplished a few things I wanted to, even though the numbers don’t show it,’’ Sands said.
Sands, 28, batted .236 with four homers and 19 RBI in 133 plate appearances with the Indians last season. He also played in 66 games with Class AAA Columbus, hitting .287 with 14 homers, 46 RBI and a .538 slugging percentage.
He entered the game against the Padres as the left fielder in the seventh and broke a 3- 3 tie with an RBI single to center in the eighth. That boosted his spring average to .204 ( 10- for- 49).
With a likely Opening Day lineup of Adam Eaton in right, Jimmy Rollins at short, Abreu at first, Frazier at third, Cabrera in left, Avisail Garcia as the designated hitter, Brett Lawrie at second, Austin Jackson in center and Alex Avila at catcher, that leaves a bench of Sands, catcher Dioner Navarro, infielder Tyler Saladino and outfielder J. B. Shuck.
Barring a late- breaking trade or free- agent signing, the rotation will be Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon, Latos and John Danks. The bullpen will be made up of David Robertson, Nate Jones, Zach Putnam, Jake Petricka, Matt Albers, Zach Duke and Dan Jennings.
The Sox completed spring training Wednesday in Arizona but waited until Friday to travel to San Diego. After another game Saturday against the Padres, they will travel Sunday to Oakland.