Dodgers Drop Exhibition Opener To White Sox 6-4

The Dodgers kicked off their exhibition schedule on Wednesday afternoon with their Cactus league opener against the White Sox at Camelback Ranch. Results are not considered important during spring training matches, but the Dodgers did not look particularly prepared during their 6-4 loss to the Pale Hose. Winter hangover I’m guessing.

White Sox 6 9 0

Dodgers    4 10 0

HR-Dickson

On the other hand, the White Sox looked like they were already ready for opening day. While the Dodgers unfortunately did not get a W, there were some notable appearances.

The game featured a battle of two left handers on the mound for both clubs. The Dodgers started newly acquired Erik Bedard, as the Chicago countered with left hander Jose Quintana. Quintana pitched two perfect innings, striking out two in his spring debut.

Bedard pitched two frames as well, allowing one earned run on two hits, with no walks or strikeouts. We got our first looks at some of the newest Dodgers. Jimmy Rollins played shortstop and batted lead-off. Howie Kendrick played second base, and Yasmani Grandal was behind the plate.

The White Sox scored first, plating one run in the top of the second, and three more in the third off of Juan Nicasio to jump out to a 4-0 lead.

In the second frame, Avisail Garcia doubled to right, and then Alexei Ramirez’s single brought him in. In the third inning, Adam Eaton singled. After Melky Cabrera lined out, Jose Abreu singled Eaton to third. Adam LaRoche doubled off of Andre Ethier’s diving outstretched glove. Eaton and Abreu scored on the play to give the White Sox a 3-0 lead. Garcia then doubled over Crawford’s head in left to score LaRoche, and that made the score 4-0.

The Dodgers scored in the bottom of the third. Joc Pederson singled. Rollins singled Pederson to third, and then Crawford’s groundball single scored Joc to cut the lead to 4-1. This was off of former Dodger Brad Penny who most people thought retired years ago. He’s still pitching folks.

The White Sox scored two more runs with Carlos Frias on the mound in the top of the fifth. Abreu singled. After Dan Black whiffed, Garcia walked. Ramirez doubled to left to score two. White Sox took a 6-1 lead.  By the fifth inning most of the minor leaguers were in the game. That’s how these exhibition games typically go.

The Dodgers would start a rally though. O’Koyea Dickson smacked the Dodgers first home run of the spring in the sixth inning. A bomb that landed over the left field wall. The Dodgers tacked on another run in the seventh inning that made it a 6-3 score. Darnell Sweeney walked. Alex Guerrero singled, and Corey Seager’s walk loaded the bases. Kyle Jensen’s double play grounder eventually brought in the run.

The Dodgers mounted one more rally in the bottom of the ninth. Consecutive singles from Sweeney, Seager, and Guerrero cut the score to 6-4 Chicago. That would be all the Dodgers could muster however. Logan Kensing got Jensen to fly out. Enrique Hernandez whiffed, and Scott Schebler grounded out to end the game. The final score was White Sox 6 Dodgers 4.

The Dodgers used seven pitchers today. Bedard, Nicasio, Frias, Sergio Santos, Adam Liberatore, Josh Ravin, and converted outfielder Blake Smith all made their spring debuts on the mound.

Joc Pederson went 2 for 2 with a run scored, including collecting the Dodger’s first hit of the spring. Alex Guerrero went 2 for 2 as well, and Corey Seager had a hit and an RBI. Rollins got a hit in his spring debut in Dodger Blue. Carl Crawford’s third inning single knocked in the Dodger’s first run of the spring. The Dodgers scored four runs off 10 hits. Yasiel Puig did not play in today’s game.

On the opposite side of the box score, the White Sox scored six runs on nine hits. Ramirez went 2 for 3 with three runs driven in. Eaton, Abreu and Garcia each had two hits apiece.

It probably shouldn’t take the entire spring for the Dodgers to figure out that Nicasio stinks, but it probably will.

The games continue tomorrow as the Dodgers face the White Sox again. This time around the Dodgers will be the road team. Clayton Kershaw will make his spring debut against fellow southpaw John Danks. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 PM.

It feels great to finally see some Dodger Baseball back, whether they win or lose. Welcome back everyone!

Go Blue!