Diamondbacks 6, White Sox 2

Left-hander Robbie Ray on Monday not only showed the power arm that makes him a top candidate for the Diamondbacks' starting rotation, but he also worked through command issues and used all three pitches, more of what the D-backs' want to see as spring advances.

Ray hit 96 mph a half-dozen times in his four innings after he replaced starter Randall Delgado in the fourth, and gave up one run and struck out six in a 6-2 victory over the White Sox at Salt River Fields. The Chicago scored on a walk, a stolen base and a single in the fifth inning, but Ray recovered to pitch two more scoreless innings, helped both times when Gerald Laird threw out runners attempting to steal second.

Ray, 23, said he is most pleased with the way his breaking ball -- more of a curve, but with some slider tendencies -- is progressing this spring.

"I'm not a two-pitch pitcher," Ray said. "My last couple of outings, being able to throw and command that pitch, has worked out well for me. This is the best that that pitch has felt" in his career. "This is the most comfortable I've felt with it and the most confidence I've felt with it. I feel like it is in a good place right now. Repetition."

Ray spent time in his last bullpen session on throwing the ball inside to right-handed hitters, and it showed.

"Being able to go inside opened up the outside part of the plate for me," he said.

David Peralta had a two-run, opposite-field single in the first inning of White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon, the third player taken in the first round of the 2014 draft. Peralta hit a line drive off the right forearm of right-hander Tyler Danish to start a four-run rally in the seventh inning. Danish jogged to shortstop in pain, then was removed from the game with what the White Sox called a bruised triceps.

"It was scary," Peralta said.

Randall Delgado

Delgado's fastball was in the 93-94 mph range during his three innings in his third spring appearance. He retired the first seven batters he faced, to run his streak to 16 including his previous appearance, before he gave up a home run to Tyler Saladino in the third.

Delgado threw 52 pitches, 29 strikes, and threw another seven pitches in the bullpen after coming out. If Delgado does not make the rotation, he could emerge as the top candidate for the long reliever role. He is 25 years old and out of options, and he certainly would be claimed if the D-backs D-backs tried to send him to the minors.

"I prefer starter, but I've always said it doesn't matter," Delgado said.

Robbie Ray

Ray is the third pitcher to throw four innings this spring, after Chase Anderson and Trevor Cahill. He threw 63 pitches, 38 strikes, and faced only one batter over the minimum thanks to two strikeout-throw-him-out double plays on stolen base attempts.

"He got in a little trouble and really finished strong," Hale said. "That's important. We've seen where we haven't been able to get back on track on other times with other pitchers. That's a step forward for him, especially. He had some issues with that his last outing."

Yasmany Tomas spent six innings in right field with no action to show for it. "Just a matter of getting some at-bats," Hale said of Tomas' first work in right this spring. I don't think any of us are ready to say he can't play third. He's been fine over there." Tomas was hit in the back foot by a pitch in the first inning but stayed in the game. There was some initial confusion as to the injury, first translated as a thumb injury ... Jordan Pacheco caught the final two innings after working at second base and behind the plate in the "B" game on Sunday. He has logged eight innings behind the plate this spring, and his versatility gives the D-backs options for the final position player. ... Daniel Hudson will pitch in a "B" game against Colorado on Wednesday on regular rest. He is scheduled to throw two innings after pitching two innings in each of his previous two appearances. ... The D-backs optioned right-hander reliever Kevin Munson to Triple-A Reno. Munson had 82 strikeouts in 62-1/3 innings at Reno last season. The D-backs have 54 players in camp, including 15 non-roster invitees.

Right-hander Matt Stites (shoulder soreness) has thrown two bullpen sessions and is on track to throw live batting practice shortly, but it appears he could be delayed out of spring training. "If it's Opening Day, super," Hale said of Stites' availability. "If it's not, that's OK." Stites will not be rushed. Unlike the more-veteran Brad Ziegler and Addison Reed, the D-backs want to make sure Stites has plenty of time to get his work in before being activated.

Probable pitchers: Diamondbacks -- RHP Josh Collmenter, RHP Allen Webster, LHP Andrew Chafin, RHP Jake Barrett, RHP Enrique Burgos. San Francisco -- LHP Madison Bumgarner, LHP Braulia Lara, LHP Jeremy Affeldt, RHP Santiago Casilla, RHP Hunter Strickland, RHP Curtis Parch.