By BERNIE WILSON, AP Sports Writer
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jerry Sands, told hours earlier that he’d won the final roster spot, singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Chicago White Sox beat the San Diego Padres 5-3 Friday night.
Sands earned the final bench spot, and then pinch hit in the eighth. He 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.
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. Petricka issued two bases-loaded walks in the inning.
The Padres host the Sox again this Saturday afternoon. Broadcast time is 235pm on WLS-AM 890. Chicago opens the regular season this Monday night in Oakland.
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