Moyer throws 92 pitches, Rockies beat White Sox

[March 29, 2012]  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Jamie Moyer has been hanging in there since his rookie season in 1986, and that's exactly what he did Wednesday.

Moyer threw 92 pitches over four innings, the latest step in his comeback bid, and Dexter Fowler hit a two-run homer to help the Colorado Rockies beat a Chicago White Sox split squad 8-5.

The 49-year-old Moyer, who sat out last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, gave up three runs and seven hits. He walked three and struck out four, facing 22 batters in all.

"I was around the plate most of the time," Moyer said. "They were very selective, and that made the game harder for me. But that's how the game is some days. You just have to battle out there."

The soft-tossing lefty, who is 267-204 in 24 major league seasons, has a 2.77 ERA this spring and appears to be a strong candidate for the fifth spot in Colorado's rotation. The Rockies are his eighth big league club and he is slated to start again next week in one of their final spring training games.

Colorado manager Jim Tracy said Moyer delivered a credible performance and liked `'the way he hung in there and kept us in there."

Tracy said a decision on Moyer will come down to the end of the camp. The club has seven exhibition games left, and the manager wants to see how Moyer recovers after throwing 92 pitches.

"There is no question about his arm. But can he bounce back five days later? We want to answer all those questions," Tracy said.

Moyer had a minor setback this month with stiffness in his leg. He has allowed four runs and 11 hits in 13 innings this spring, striking out 11.

"I felt good when I went out there today, I felt good when I left," Moyer said. "I could have pitched another inning. I really like where I'm at right now."

Fowler's homer in the third inning was all the Rockies managed against Gavin Floyd until they scored six times in the sixth. The right-hander was sharp early, facing only 17 batters through five innings.

But it all came apart with two outs in the sixth. Floyd, penciled in as Chicago's No. 3 starter, was charged with eight runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings. He had four strikeouts and two walks.

"I felt pretty good out there until that last inning," Floyd said. "I made some quality pitches and felt strong until that last inning."

Colorado sent 11 batters to the plate in the sixth. Carlos Gonzalez and Todd Helton each hit an RBI double before Michael Cuddyer delivered a two-run single. Jordan Pacheco's run-scoring double chased Floyd, who has a 6.32 ERA this spring.

Wilin Rosario, who was 3 for 3, had a leadoff double and an RBI single in the inning.

Chicago outhit the Rockies 14-8. Paul Konerko pushed his spring average to .407 with three hits.

NOTES: Tracy said a lot of roster decisions will go down to the final days of spring training. ... Fowler won't play in the Rockies' regular road game against a Cleveland split squad Thursday but will stay in camp and play in two minor league games to work on his swing. ... John Danks will be Chicago's opening-day starter, an honor that went to Mark Buehrle for nine of the last 10 seasons. Buehrle signed with the Miami Marlins in the offseason.

[Associated Press]

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