Sands earns roster spot, singles in go-ahead run for ChiSox

SAN DIEGO (AP) Jerry Sands learned Friday afternoon that he'd won the final roster spot with the Chicago White Sox.

A few hours later, he singled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the eighth inning to help the White Sox beat the San Diego Padres 5-3.

''I'm excited about the opportunity, and I'm looking forward to helping the club,'' Sands said. ''It's a good group of guys.''

Sands was signed in December and a roster spot opened when Adam LaRoche retired after executive Ken Williams told LaRoche to cut back on his 14-year-old son's access around the team.

He pinch-hit in the eighth, stroking an RBI single up the middle.

''I've been working on getting to the fastball this spring and I was able to get one to hit and I snuck it through the middle,'' he said. ''When you don't know much about the pitcher, you just try and barrel something up.''

Sands was kept over Travis Ishikawa, Matt Davidson and Carlos Sanchez.

Jose Abreu hit a two-run homer off reliever Kevin Quackenbush in the fourth, his fifth of spring. Jimmy Rollins was aboard after a leadoff single.

White Sox starter Mat Latos, who began his big league career with the Padres, and reliever Jake Petricka blew a 3-0 lead in the fifth. The Padres scored three runs on two hits, four walks - including two bases-loaded walks by Petricka - and a sacrifice fly.

STARTING TIME

White Sox: Latos allowed three runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings, struck out three and walked three.

Padres: Andrew Cashner allowed one run and two hits in three innings, with one strikeout.

QUOTABLE

''I thought it was the best he had pitched all spring,'' manager Robin Ventura said of Latos. ''He got out of Arizona and was able to crank it up a little bit. It's encouraging. From where he was, to this, was encouraging.''

SOFT OPENING

Rookie Padres manager Andy Green found the door to the postgame interview room locked, and then saw that the microphone at the podium was too high. So he simply pulled up a chair and held court with three writers.

PADRES TRANSACTION

The Padres signed veteran right-hander Jeremy Guthrie to a minor league deal. Guthrie will pitch in Saturday afternoon's game against the White Sox, Green said. Guthrie will be assigned to Triple-A El Paso. He was granted his release by Texas on Monday. The 36-year-old Guthrie signed a minor league deal with Texas right before spring training. He had a 5.14 ERA in three Cactus League appearances, allowing three home runs with five strikeouts over seven innings. In a Triple-A game last week, he gave up three solo homers over five innings. Guthrie started Game 7 of the 2014 World Series for Kansas City, but was left off the Royals' postseason roster last season.

UP NEXT

White Sox: LHP John Danks is scheduled to start Saturday against the Padres.

Padres: LHP Drew Pomeranz is scheduled to start against the White Sox.