Chisox outscore Reds

Published 12:56 am Monday, April 2, 2012

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Jake Peavy’s worries have him pleased and excited. He is worried about getting hitters out and not his health for a change.

Peavy pitched four shaky innings and Paul Konerko had three hits for the Chicago White Sox in a 13-10 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

Peavy, hampered by injuries since 2009, allowed four runs on seven hits and a walk in his last spring training tuneup. He is set to face the AL champion Texas Rangers on Saturday.

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“I can’t wait to go out Saturday and worry about nothing but getting Ian Kinsler out to start the game,” Peavy said. “I’m glad it’s the end of spring training. I’m ready to strap it on.”

Peavy said he didn’t locate his fastball very well but was pleased with his breaking ball.

“This was a blessed spring. We haven’t talked about my arm at all,” he said.

Konerko had an RBI double and two singles. Dayan Viciedo hit a three-run homer off Cincinnati starter Mat Latos.

Acquired in an offseason trade with San Diego, Latos allowed five runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings. Latos left his previous start early with a strained left calf but had more trouble this time with the wind than his calf.

“His velocity was down but his breaking ball was better,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “I didn’t see any signs that his calf was bothering him.”

Joey Votto had three hits for Cincinnati and Jay Bruce added an RBI double.

Rookie catcher Devin Mesoraco hit an RBI triple off Peavy.

Ryan Ludwick and Chris Heisey, expected to share playing time in left field for the Reds, both homered in the ninth off Zach Stewart.

Baker will decide which of them to play based on matchups. Ludwick is likely to start the season opener Thursday against Mark Buehrle and the Miami Marlins in Cincinnati.

“Heisey is not a good matchup for Buehrle,” Baker said. “He throws all the junk out there. That’s not Heisey’s strength. With Heisey and Ludwick, one of them will have a good day because of who they matched up with but the next day they might not match up. They might say, ‘I’ve had two hits today or hit a home run today, how come I’m not playing today?’ Or the fans say it.”

NOTES: The Reds traded 3B Juan Francisco to the Atlanta Braves for RHP J.J. Hoover, who was assigned to Triple-A Louisville. “Juan had a pretty good spring. We just didn’t see him fitting on the club out of spring training. He was out of options. We decided to add pitching depth to the organization,” Cincinnati general manager Walt Jocketty said. “Hoover was a starter until midseason. They put him in the bullpen and took off. We’ve had very good reports. We saw him again yesterday. He threw 92-94 (mph) yesterday. He’s a sinker, slider guy, a late-inning guy. He’s young (24). He’s got three options. He has a good arm, a power arm. It’s a good combination.” … LHP Jeff Francis was sent to Triple-A Louisville to start for the Bats. Francis was signed to a minor league contract in the offseason. “There is a possibility he could go to the bullpen, but we want him to start in case anything happens to one of our other starters,” Jocketty said. … Adam Dunn started the game for the White Sox but had permission to leave early to fly home to Houston. The White Sox will play a pair of exhibition games against the Astros on Tuesday and Wednesday, then open the season in Arlington against the Rangers on Friday. … Konerko is 15 for 24 in his last seven games.