Baseball: Mark DeRosa hits sharp single in San Francisco Giants debut

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - One pitch, one swing and Mark DeRosa showed the kind of threat he can be for San Francisco's offence.

DeRosa lined a sharp single over shortstop Omar Vizquel's head in his debut at-bat after being limited following October wrist surgery, and the Giants beat the Chicago White Sox 6-2 on Tuesday.

"He came out of the chute with a base hit," manager Bruce Bochy said. "I know he had to be excited to be out there, even though it's spring training."

Fred Lewis and Buster Posey hit consecutive homers in the eighth for San Francisco. Lewis' drive was a two-run shot.

The game was delayed an hour by heavy rain in the desert - and Bochy nearly scratched DeRosa from the lineup because of the wet weather.

DeRosa, the Giants' new No. 5 hitter, sent the first pitch he saw from John Danks into left-centre. DeRosa also made good contact on a lineout to right in the fourth, when he slipped on his shoelace in the batter's box.

DeRosa acknowledged afterward: "I wore different shoes because I didn't want to mess up my good ones."

One of general manager Brian Sabean's top priorities this winter was to add a big hitter to drive in runs from the middle of the lineup. The Giants hope DeRosa can be that guy, joining new cleanup man Aubrey Huff and slugger Pablo Sandoval in the third spot.

DeRosa figures nearly two weeks of standing in the batter's box and facing coaches served him well. He didn't face actual pitchers until a simulated game Sunday.

"I felt good. Spring training as a hitter you search for timing," DeRosa said. "You don't want to be too hot or too cold."

The 35-year-old DeRosa is coming off a big year during which he batted .250 with a career-best 23 homers to go along with 78 RBIs.

DeRosa was traded from the Indians to the Cardinals on June 27 but was in the St. Louis lineup for three games before hurting his wrist against San Francisco. He spent a stint on the disabled list for an injury that was later diagnosed as a partially torn tendon sheath.

He's eager to get rolling with another new team.

Danks is off to a strong start himself. He struck out four over three scoreless innings and hasn't given up a run in his five spring innings.

"I was glad the sun came out. It was fun to get out there and have another good outing," Danks said. "Really just throw strikes make them hit the ball and I'll go from there."

Manager Ozzie Guillen was impressed with Danks' command, pointing out that the left-hander threw a 3-2 changeup, a feel pitch most guys are still trying to find this early in spring training.

"I'm very glad about the way we're throwing the ball right now, especially John," Guillen said. "I was kind of worried about him last year. He had some problems with the cold weather but now, the weather was pretty cold and he handled it real well. That's all we're looking for right now."

This game had plenty of other entertaining elements: Vizquel starting against his former team, only a few hours after the Giants were visited by former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali. And San Francisco infielder Juan Uribe received a warm welcome when he popped into the visitor's clubhouse during the rain delay to see his old team.

Mark Kotsay had a pair of hits and drove in a run for Chicago.

Lewis and Posey each hit their first homer of the spring.

"It took 'em eight innings and they figured out the wind," Bochy said.

NOTES: First-pitch temperature was 50 degrees for the second straight day. ... Kotsay also stole a base. Andruw Jones had two steals in an earlier game - a sign Guillen is going to give his players the green light to run. "We have a different style of game," he said. "I want everybody to feel free to run. We're going to take a lot of advantage of our abilities." ... San Francisco closer Brian Wilson worked two innings for the first time. ... The Giants improved to 5-0 at Scottsdale Stadium.