Garcia makes his pitch for starting rotation

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Freddy Garcia, in line to be the White Sox’s fifth starter, gave up a run in his first two innings of the spring to lead the way in an 8-4 split-squad victory Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Jered Mitchell, the Sox’s 2009 first-round draft pick, had a pair of RBI doubles and scored three runs.

Juan Pierre started for the Sox in left field against the team that traded him this offseason, and had a hit in three at-bats with a stolen base.

“I got my feet wet a little bit, but I still have a lot of work to do,” said Mitchell, who is projected for Double-A this season. “Every day is a stepping stone and a chance to progress.”

Ozzie Guillen did not manage the game against the Dodgers, choosing to be with the split-squad club that faced the Cubs across town in Mesa, Ariz.

“Freddy looked good early on,” said Sox acting manager Chris Chambliss, who will head the Charlotte Knights, the club’s Triple-A team. “He spots his fastball real well and did a good job with that today.”

Starter Eric Stults, in competition for the Dodgers’ final starting spot, gave up a walk in two scoreless innings.

James McDonald, also vying to be the fifth starter, gave up three runs on three hits and a walk in two innings.

Veteran Russ Ortiz is a long shot for that spot, but fared well by giving up a hit in two scoreless innings.

“Stults was good and I thought he mixed his pitches well as did Russ Ortiz,” Dodgers manager Joe Torre said.

With a double and a single, Manny Ramirez had his second consecutive two-hit game for the Dodgers.

Former Dodgers closer Eric Gagne, who is trying to win a job on a minor-league invite, struggled in his first appearance.

The right-hander gave up two runs and three hits in one inning, entering the game to Guns ‘N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle,” just as he did during his heyday with the Dodgers.

“I heard it, but I didn’t know it was coming. Those are good memories,” said Gagne who was pitching in independent baseball in Canada last season. “I was nervous. It’s been a while since I’ve pitched at that level. I was a little off mechanically.”