Carlton Fisk went 1 for 2 with an RBI in his exhibition catching debut as the White Sox lost to Kansas City 4-2 Saturday. He had been a designated hitter until March 11, when he jammed his right index finger.
”It felt a little odd catching,” said Fisk, who caught 15 innings last week in minor league games. ”I didn`t feel relaxed. My anticipation was a little off today. I flinched a couple of times.”
Fisk was charged with one passed ball in six innings. His single lifted his average to .421 (8 for 19) . . . Ivan Calderon, hampered by a strained hamstring, played his first game in the outfield since March 12.
– With little more than a week to go until the opener, manager Jeff Torborg is experimenting with his batting order. The latest tinker involves batting Steve Lyons ninth. That`s one spot lower than he has been hitting much of the spring and seven lower than he`d prefer. ”I`m a good bunter, and I can move the runner over,” Lyons said. ”I`d like to hit in that No. 2 spot.”
”I`m just playing with it,” Torborg said.
Dave Gallagher, up to .306 after starting 1 for 10, has been No. 2. If Lyons is ninth, the likely order: Ozzie Guillen, Gallagher, Harold Baines, Calderon, Dan Pasqua, Fisk, Greg Walker, Eddie Williams, Lyons.
– Bobby Thigpen made a one-inning return a week after a line drive hit his knee. He gave up a run on a triple by Jim Eisenreich and a double by Gary Thurman. Loser Barry Jones (1-2) allowed two hits and a run in one inning. His ERA climbed to 6.17.
Shawn Hillegas held the Royals to five hits and two runs, one unearned, in seven innings, longest stint by a Sox starter. His 0.75 ERA is the lowest in the rotation.
