".J. Putz downplayed striking out Andre Ethier and James Loney in his first outing since undergoing off-season right elbow surgery last summer.

"We have a long way to go still," Putz said Friday after throwing a scoreless inning in the White Sox's 8-3 loss to the Dodgers. "I just have to keep building arm strength."

Putz admitted he was probably overcautious.

"Any time I get a little sore or something, I kind of over exaggerate in my head what it is," he said. "That's probably going to be the hardest part getting back from surgery. But so far everything's working in the right direction."

Manager Ozzie Guillen echoed Putz's feelings, adding he was impressed he didn't know Putz, a power pitcher, threw a split-finger fastball on a 3-2 count to earn one of his strikeouts.

Santos on fast track: A National League scout confirmed Sergio Santos' fastball was clocked Thursday at 98 mph."