MESA, Ariz. -- For a young hurler billed as Jon Garland-like in his style of pitching, being unable to record a single out via the ground ball over two innings wouldn't exactly be considered an optimum day's work for Jeff Marquez.

The 24-year-old right-hander really didn't seem to mind how he set down the Cubs on Saturday at HoHoKam Park, hurling two hitless innings during his White Sox debut.

"It doesn't matter. I was throwing strikes," said Marquez with a laugh. "I had a walk in there, but I felt good. Curveball was good, changeup was good. I was throwing well and felt comfortable out there."

Marquez admitted to being anxious to get out to the mound for his first White Sox start, after having his schedule changed last week from a Wednesday appearance in Tempe to a side session in Glendale. He struck out Alfonso Soriano swinging in the first on what Marquez called a knuckle-curve and fanned Mike Fontenot looking for the second out in the second.

Of his 27 pitches, Marquez threw 15 for strikes. He focused on the slider, having added that pitch as part of the Yankees' system last year.

"I'm a sinker, changeup, curve guy," Marquez said. "But the slider is coming around."

As part of the trade that sent Nick Swisher to New York, Marquez admitted to being shocked when he first received the offseason news from Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. The move turned out to be a blessing in disguise, with Marquez having a chance to compete for the fifth starter's spot or a long relief bullpen job depending on the health of Jose Contreras and/or Bartolo Colon.

His sinker has been compared favorably to that of Jon Garland, although it wasn't working as he desired on Saturday.

"He threw the ball pretty good, but I don't think he was sharp enough for the first time," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen of Marquez. "But Marquez really impressed me. I was happy with what I saw."