Phoenix ? Bartolo Colon struggled in his spring debut for the Chicago White Sox.

Colon gave up four runs and three hits over 12/3 innings in Chicago’s 11-7 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Monday. The right-hander walked two and struck out one in his first appearance since offseason surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow.

Manager Ozzie Guillen called Colon’s location “erratic,” but said, “His velocity was good enough … I’m satisfied with what he did.”

The White Sox hope to insert Colon into the starting rotation, though Guillen indicated he does not expect the veteran to be on the opening-day roster. Colon will pitch in a minor league game on Friday.

“We have to careful,” Guillen said. “We’re not in a hurry with him.”

Pitching coach Don Cooper said he wasn’t concerned with the results or Colon’s velocity.

“He’s reacquainting himself with the mound and the game,” Cooper said. “We got all that accomplished.”

Mark Buehrle followed Colon and gave up four runs in 31/3 innings. Buehrle hadn’t given up a run in two previous spring appearances.

Gil Meche went 31/3 innings for the Royals, allowing four runs and four hits. Meche said he threw his first changeups of the spring and “had some good results.”

“I feel like I was trying to go at it a little bit like I would my first start of the year,” he said. “My biggest thing is getting to where I can go seven innings, 100 pitches and not get tired at any point.”

Notes: Jim Thome, who has been out with tightness in his lower back, is expected to play in a simulated game today at Chicago’s spring facility. … Royals RHP Julio Pimentel will be out at least six weeks with an elbow injury and possibly the season, if surgery is required. The Royals said Pimentel has a non-displaced bone spur fracture in his pitching elbow.