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Monday, March 24, 2008
Spring training: Royals hold off White Sox 6-5
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
TUCSON (AP) -- Joe Crede might just take back his job as the White Sox's third baseman from promising replacement Josh Fields.
Fields, though, is not ready to concede anything yet.
He singled and scored a run Sunday in Chicago's 6-5 loss to the Kansas City Royals.
''I'm trying not to think about (being demoted) right now, actually,'' Fields said. ''I'm preparing to play in Chicago. Until they come to me and say, 'Hey, you are going back to Charlotte,' I'm not going to think about what if.''
Fields hit .244 with 23 homers and 67 RBIs filling in for Crede, who had back surgery June 12.
But Crede agreed to a one-year, $5.1 million deal in January and he has shown no ill-effects from the surgery even though he his hitting just .159 this spring.
Fields, who has a .268 spring average, has nine hits in his last 21 plate appearances after going 1-for-3 against the Royals.
''I feel like I put myself in a good position and hopefully made the decision a little bit tougher,'' Fields said. ''They have a tough decision to make. I think we are all waiting.''
Chicago is expected to trim its final roster by Wednesday.
White Sox starter John Danks allowed five runs, six hits and four walks in 4 1-3 innings.
Royals starter Zack Greinke was in regular season form, giving up two runs and four hits in six innings, his longest stint of the spring. Kansas City's No. 3 starter struck out six and walked one.
Kansas City's Ryan Shealy hit a solo homer off Danks, his fourth home run of the spring. Damon Hollins went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, and Jason Smith was 1-for-2 with a double.
Chicago's Carlos Quentin was 2-for-4, including his first homer of the spring. Brian Anderson connected on his fourth home run.
Notes: The White Sox will unveil a life-sized sculpture of Harold Baines prior to their game with Kansas City on July 20 at U. S. Cellular Field. Baines, the seventh to be honored in bronze at the ballpark, is a member of Chicago's coaching staff. Baines was a six time All-Star with the White Sox, hitting 221 of his 384 homers, and getting 981 of his 1,628-career RBIs with Chicago. ... Kansas City optioned pitcher Luke Hochevar to Triple-A Omaha. Hochevar had a 2.25 ERA in three spring games, allowing two runs in eight innings.
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