SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Chicago White Sox left-hander John Danks thinks he's finally finding his groove.
Danks pitched five shutout innings and Carlos Quentin hit his first homer of spring training, but the San Francisco Giants scored four runs in the eighth and went on to a 6-4 victory Thursday.
"This is the first outing in a couple I've made some progression," Danks said. "I was just struggling to throw the ball where I wanted to. Even the games when I had good results, I didn't feel sharp. This is definitely a big step."
Giants first baseman Jesus Guzman made a diving stop on a groundball to his right with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the ninth inning, preventing the tying runs from scoring. He had game-winning home runs in his two previous games.
"He's been winning games with his bat. Today he won it with his glove," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said.
Danks gave up four singles and struck out five while walking one. He has given up only one run in his last two starts after being tagged for five earned runs in two innings on March 9 against Cleveland.
"To pitch five scoreless and to feel better than I have all spring, its definitely a little boost for me. I feel like I'm getting stronger each time out," Danks said.
White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko doubled in a run in a two-run first inning off Giants starter Matt Cain and hit a solo homer in the sixth. He has 10 RBI.
"It's a long spring. You take it easy early on. Now it's time to go to the whip, I guess," Konerko said. "Putting the ball in the air is a good indicator that I feel good. When I'm hitting the ball on the ground, I'm not helping anybody."
Guzman was credited with the go-ahead RBI in the Giants' four-run eighth inning when rookie second baseman Gordon Beckham missed a throw from third on a potential inning-ending double play grounder, enabling two runs to score to break a 4-all tie. Guzman has a team-high 12 RBI.
San Francisco has been held scoreless in the first five innings of its last three games facing Danks, the Cubs' Ryan Dempster and Milwaukee's Jeff Suppan.
"We're going to have to figure out a way to get some runs on the board," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said.
Notes
San Francisco left-hander Noah Lowry was given an injection Wednesday to alleviate pain in his upper back. He has not thrown this spring after reporting soreness in his left scapula the first week that pitchers were in camp. ... White Sox third baseman Josh Fields is a surprise candidate to bat leadoff this season. Fields, who hit 23 homers in 100 games in 2007, is hitting .394 with a .459 on-base percentage this spring. ... San Francisco third baseman Pablo Sandoval had half of a lower front tooth replaced at a dentist Thursday morning, a day after being struck in the mouth by a groundball in the fifth inning of the Giants game against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. "I'm OK. That happens," Sandoval said. "You can't do anything about it. It took a funny hop straight to my mouth. I want to keep playing but I think they want to keep me out of there." Sandoval left the park early Thursday and is likely to miss at least one more game, Bochy said. ... Left-hander Jonathan Sanchez returned to the Giants' camp after spending the last three weeks with Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. He is to start Sunday against Milwaukee. He was 1-0 with a 4.05 ERA in two starts in the WBC, giving up three runs in 6 2/3 innings. ... Juan Uribe started at third base against the White Sox, for whom he played the last five seasons, and was subjected to some good-natured heckling from White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen during his first at-bat.
