Pitching Shines in Spring Win for Dodgers

Dodgers 7 8 0

Athletics 2 5 1

WP- Capuano (1-0)

LP- Parker (1-1)

HR- Castellanos (1)

We had our first look at southpaw Chris Capuano today, and I must say he exceeded my expectations. Capuano pitched two innings-36 pitches of which 25 were strikes. He struck out three batters, and did not allow a run.

Speedy Dee led off the first inning with a walk, and then he easily steals second base. Mark Ellis doubles in Gordon, giving the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead over the A’s. Matt Kemp adds another run to the score with a single that brings home Ellis. That would be Bison’s first hit of Spring. 2-0 Dodgers. Matt Kemp impresses by tagging up to third on a foul ball to first baseman Chris Carter. Nice! After Loney draws a walk, Juan Uribe grounds into a double play in typical Uribe ’11 style.

In the third inning, FedEx is hit by a pitch and Adam Kennedy singles. A Matt Kemp whiff ends the inning for the Dodgers.

Matt Guerrier pitches a scoreless third inning in relief of Capuano. Mike MacDougal comes in for the fourth inning. In the bottom half of the third, Jordon Norberto strikes out the side. Ethier, Rivera, and Loney all whiff.

Mike MacDougal comes into pitch the fourth, and walks a couple of batters but strikes out Choice to get out of the inning unscathed. Uribe and FedEx lead off the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back walks. Adam Kennedy singles to right field, scoring Uribe. 3-0 Dodgers. Dee Gordon walks on four pitches to load the bases. Mark Ellis hits the ball hard to third base which allows Kennedy to score on the force out leaving runners at the corners, 4-0 Dodgers. Matt Kemp strikes out again. The A’s bring in Sean Doolittle, the lefty, to pitch to Andre Ethier. Dre promptly slaps a double to right field, and he picks up two RBI. 6-0 Dodgers.

It’s Coffey Time! Todd Coffee comes in to pitch the fifth inning. He strikes out Anthony Recker for his first K as a Dodger. He also blows away Cliff Pennington on strikes and retires the side in order. Lookin’ good, Todd! Former Dodger Travis Schlichting comes into pitch for the A’s, and Loney almost takes him deep. Schlichting strikes out De Jesus and Bard to send the Dodgers down 1-2-3.

John Grabow, the 33-year old, comes into pitch for his hometown team (he’s from Arcadia). Grabow strikes out one and retires the side in order. In the bottom of the sixth and Schlichting still pitching, Alex Castellanos, who was in at second base for a couple of innings, goes deep with a solo homerun! 7-0 Dodgers.

Stephen Fife is the sixth Dodger pitcher for the day. He continues the Dodgers’ shutout pitching with an easy inning. In the bottom of the seventh Josh Fields singles, but the Dodgers do not score.

Fife ends the shutout streak in the eighth inning when he allows a single to Wes Timmons and a double to Adam Rosales sending Timmons to third. Michael Taylor‘s sac fly allows the run home, and gets the A’s on the board, 7-1 Dodgers. In the bottom half of the eighth Justin Sellers singles, but the Dodgers are retired thereafter.

Wil Ledezma replaces Fife on the mound for the Dodgers in the ninth inning. He promptly gives up a double to Jonny Gomes. Gomes ends up at third base on a groundball by Josh Donaldson. Ledezma walks Ryan Ortiz, and he advances to second base on defensive indifference. Gomes come home on a Grant Green sac fly, 7-2 Dodgers. Max Stassi flies out to right field to end the game and give the Dodgers the win.

Tomorrow Clayton Kershaw will pitch a live game for the first time this Spring against the Rangers. Other pitchers we will see are non-roster invites Fernando Nieve, Angel Guzman, Ryan Tucker, and Scott Rice.