GLENDALE—Two starting pitchers slated to start opening day took the mound for the White Sox and the Athletics and looked ready to pitch in games that count. Mark Buehrle got the better of Ben Sheets and the Oakland Athletics in a 2-0 Sox win Tuesday.Paul Konerko broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-out double to drive in Juan Pierre, and Carlos Quentin hit a solo home run in the seventh.The White Sox completed their Camelback Ranch spring training schedule and have one full-squad game left in Arizona.Buehrle outdueled Sheets to earn his first victory and finished spring training with a 2.08 earned run average.Sheets, who struggled earlier this month and entered the game with a 17.28 ERA, put together a second straight quality start, going 5 1/3 innings and allowing a run on three hits with five strikeouts and five walks.Buehrle struck out three and allowed four hits over five innings and relievers Tony Pena, Randy Williams and closer Bobby Jenks worked the final four innings.Jenks pitched the last two and struck out the side in the eighth inning, pumping his fist in celebration after the third out.Buehrle said he’ll feel the rush of being on the mound in Chicago next week.Quentin’s home run was his fourth of spring training to go with a team high 13 runs batted in.The A’s were shut out for the first time this springs.
NOTES—The White Sox finalized their 25-man roster before Tuesday’s game, and reliever Sergio Santos, who was an infielder only a year ago, made the team. Santos, 26, has never appeared in a regular-season major league game, but made the team on the strength of a solid spring. “It’s a day I’ll never forget,” Santos said. Utility infielder Jayson Nix also made the club, as the White Sox optioned outfielder Alejandro De Aza, pitcher Daniel Hudson and infielder Brent Lillibridge to Class AAA Charlotte and reassigned pitchers Greg Aquino, Charlie Leesman and Erick Threets and catcher Donny Lucy to minor-league camp.