DBacks Walker Makes Another Strong Impression

By Chris Gabel and Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com

Taijuan Walker made another strong impression on his new team Sunday, outdueling White Sox starter Reynaldo Lopez as the D-backs beat the White Sox, 4-1, at Salt River Fields.

Walker, acquired from the Mariners in the offseason, struck out a pair and gave up one hit in three scoreless innings. He threw just 26 pitches.

“It was quick. That’s what I wanted. Get there, throw a lot of strikes and get quick outs,” said Walker, who threw 20 additional pitches in the bullpen after he left the game.

Lopez made his second Cactus League start for the White Sox, his first since allowing five runs and four hits in 1 1/3 innings on Feb. 28 against the Reds. He was one of three players acquired from the Nationals in the trade for Adam Eaton on Dec. 7.

“I felt good. I improved, pitched a lot better than the last time,” said Lopez, who threw three innings, allowing a run on three hits with three strikeouts, two of which came against D-backs slugger Paul Goldschmidt. “I had much better focus than the last time. I kept my pitches down, which was good.”

Oswaldo Arcia, the former top prospect signed by the D-backs to a Minor League contract in December, took an Aaron Bummer fastball to the opposite field, landing on the right-field berm in the fifth. Jake Lamb had an RBI double in the first for the D-backs, and Ildemaro Vargas added a solo home run in the seventh.

The White Sox only run came on a Tyler Saladino homer against Tom Wilhelmsen in the fifth that briefly tied the game before Arcia’s long ball.