Baseball notes

LITTLE ROCK — PIRATES

Burnett walks in runs

BRADENTON, Fla. - A.J. Burnett lasted just 1 1/3 innings Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies, struggling with his control as his pitch count climbed to 51.

The Pittsburgh Pirates ace, preparing for an opening-day start against the Chicago Cubs, walked in two runs in a four-run second during a 5-0 loss, giving up 4 runs, 4 hits and the 2 walks.

“All I’m worried about is April 1 and building up to that date,” Burnett said.

Burnett (Central Arkansas Christian) issued consecutive walks to Humberto Quintero and Ben Revere that forced in two runs. Later in the inning, Chase Utley worked reliever Kris Johnson for another bases-loaded walk.

“Walking guys with the bases loaded at this point in the spring doesn’t bother me because I was trying to be aggressive in that situation,” Burnett said. “Any time you take the mound you want to do well, but it’s spring training and results really don’t matter. The whole idea is to just to get your work in and keep building up arm strength for the regular season.”

INDIANS

Carrasco hit in head

MESA, Ariz. - Cleveland Indians Manager Terry Francona was reluctant to allow starter Carlos Carrasco to remain in the game after he was hit in the head by a line drive.

“We made him pass every test there was,” Francona said. “We quizzed him out on the mound and even after the inning we took him up into the clubhouse and really put him through a real good rundown of stuff. It got him pretty good and we will follow up with him [Monday night] for sure.”

Carrasco persuaded Francona to keep him in after Darnell McDonald’s drive knocked him to his knees and he pitched three innings in the Indians’ 13-5 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

Carrasco is competing for one of the team’s rotation spots. He allowed 4 hits, 2 runs and 1 walk and struck out 2. He missed all of last season after elbow ligament replacement surgery.

WHITE SOX

Danks makes rerturn

GLENDALE, Ariz. - John Danks hadn’t pitched in a game since last May.

The 10 months that passed since felt like 10 years to the Chicago White Sox left-hander. The last two hours before Danks started Chicago’s spring game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday seemed like an eternity to him, too.

“I tell you what, the clock stopped at 11 [a.m.],” said Danks, who took the mound at 1:05 p.m. Pacific for the first time since he faced the Cubs at Wrigley Field on May 19. “I felt like I kept looking at the clock, waiting for the game to start. Once I got on the field and started warming up, it felt a little more in my comfort zone.”