PHOENIX -- Gordon Beckham is doing everything he can to make life difficult for Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen.
Beckham made his second start of the spring at second base Sunday and pounded out three doubles in Chicago's 9-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The White Sox selected the rookie shortstop, a college star at Georgia, with the eighth overall pick in last year's draft. It was their first top-10 pick since 1990.
Beckham was a long shot to make the White Sox at the start of spring training but he's batting .333 and making a strong bid to head north with the team when it breaks camp.
"He's had a great spring training, and he's making it tougher on us to make that decision," Guillen said. "He continues to impress everybody. If this kid continues to do what he's doing right now, it's going to be a nice, special headache.
"I love making decisions like that."
Guillen said he won't hold Beckham's inexperience against him and praised his quiet confidence.
"There's a difference between cocky and being confident," Beckham said. "I try to be as confident as I can without being cocky."
Gavin Floyd also turned in a sharp outing for Chicago, throwing four hitless innings. He struck out two and walked two.
"I felt the location of my fastball was real good," Floyd said. "I felt like I attacked them pretty well with all my pitches."
Floyd, coming off a 17-win season, has established himself as one of Chicago's top starters.
"It's a little different now," he said. "I don't have to compete for a job. At the same time, I want to get better and focus on what I have to do."
For the Dodgers, manager Joe Torre praised the play of utility infielder Juan Castro, who went 1-for-1 to raise his spring average to .500.
"He may not hit consistently, but it looks like he can put the bat on the ball, which is important for somebody coming off the bench and playing once in a while," Torre said. "He's been impressive, no question. He's one of those guys who can disappear in the woodwork. He doesn't do things with a lot of flare, but he does it all."
Clayton Kershaw yielded two hits in 2 2-3 scoreless innings for the Dodgers.
Game notes
RHP Jason Schmidt, trying to secure a spot in the Dodgers' rotation after missing 1 1/2 seasons due to shoulder operations, will pitch the first inning against Texas on Monday. "If we're comfortable and he's comfortable, he could go more than that," Torre said. "But we're looking at one (inning) right now."