Mexico 2 9 2

WP- Fife (1-0)

LP- Rodriguez (0-1)

HR- Pena (1), Ethier (1)

I always enjoy when the Dodgers play exhibition games versus new or different opponents, and this Spring the Dodgers and Team Mexico of the World Baseball Classic had the chance to meet up at Camelback Ranch on Wednesday. While another squad lost to Cleveland at Goodyear Ballpark in a 4-0 game, the rest of the Dodgers put up 10 runs on 12 hits at Camelback Ranch against Mexico. What was even more interesting is that the game pitted some Dodgers against their very own teammates. Adrian Gonzalez and Luis Cruz are both team members for Mexico.

Stephen Fife filled in for a sick Zack Greinke and collected the win versus Mexico. Photo: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

After Zack Greinke was scratched from his scheduled start due to the case of the Blue Flu (haven’t these guys heard of Purell?), Stephen Fife made a commendable start going 4 innings while allowing 1 earned run on 3 hits. Fife was followed by Brandon League, Kenley Jansen, and J.P. Howell who all pitched scoreless frames. Zach Lee, the No. 1 pitching prospect in the Dodgers minor league system, pitched the final two innings. Lee, who was showing off his Blue stirrups (nice!) allowed 1 run on 4 hits. It was definitely different to see Adrian Gonzalez and Luis Cruz adorned in their Team Mexico uniforms. Both went hitless in the game.

The Dodgers jumped into the lead quickly by scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning off a Dee Gordon bunt single, a Matt Kemp fielder’s choice, and a two-run homerun by Andre Ethier. That was Dre’s first homerun of the Spring, and it was off a left-hander Daniel Rodriguez as well.

The Dodgers scored another two runs in the second inning off new pitcher Ryan Acosta. Alex Castellanos drew a walk and stole a base. Castellanos scored on a double by Dee Gordon. Mark Ellis is hit by a pitch, and with Matt Kemp at bat Gordon and Ellis pull a double steal. Matt Kemp drives in another run as Dee Gordon scores on yet another fielder’s choice by Bison. The inning is ended when Kemp is caught stealing third base.

Team Mexico got on the board in the top of the fourth inning off a solo homerun from Ramiro Pena. Mexico would score one more run off the Dodgers in the eighth inning from an Edgar Gonzalez double, Sebastian Valle single, and then a fielding error from shortstop Corey Seager allowed a run to score. Seager, the Dodgers’ first-round draft pick last year, looked big at short.

The Dodgers hung a high five in the bottom half of the eighth inning off Mexico pitcher Victor Garate. Webster Rivas and C.J. Retherford hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. Rivas scored on a ground-rule double by Jeremy Rathjen. Corey Seager singled which scored Retherford. Then, with no outs still, Darnell Sweeney tripled to center field scoring two more runs for the Dodgers. After two outs and a new pitcher, O’Koyea Dickson hit the second ground-rule double of the inning allowing Sweeney to score. Ramon Castro‘s fly out finally ends the inning.

Team Mexico will take on Team Italy on Thursday for their WBC opener. The Dodgers will play the Texas Rangers on Thursday at 12:05 p.m. Chad Billingsley will start.

The Dodgers have assigned to Minor League camp Kelvin De La Cruz, Nick Evans, Ozzie Martinez and Dallas McPherson. Dodgers.com

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) March 4, 2013

It’s not a shocker that these four weren’t going to make the Major League roster.

Dallas McPherson along with three other non-roster players are sent to minor league camp. Photo: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas McPherson, the left-hand hitting third baseman, was especially cringe worthy in his 13 at-bats during Spring Training so far. The non-roster invitee who was previously part of the Chicago White Sox system, hit just .154 with 2 hits and 7 strikeouts in 8 games.

Nick Evans, first base, collected one more hit than McPherson with 3 in 12 at-bats with the Dodgers this Spring. His .250 average over the course of 8 games didn’t impress, and even though the Dodgers are in need of a back-up for Adrian Gonzalez at first base, Nick Evans will decidedly not be that said player.

Osvaldo Martinez, a shortstop, is the third infielder the Dodgers have chosen to send over to the minor league side. In his 9 Spring at-bats, Ozzie has hit .111 with 1 hit.

The Dodgers also chose to cut lefty Kelvin De La Cruz whose Spring ERA of 21.60 speaks for itself. He has only pitched in 1 2/3 innings thus far with the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch, but he’s allowed 4 earned runs on 3 hits with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts.

It isn’t necessarily the end of the line for these players who may end up within the Dodger minor league system, yet you have to wonder if any of these NRIs will be seen in a Dodger uniform ever again. The chances are pretty slim.

After cutting three infielders and with Hanley Ramirez, Luis Cruz, and Adrian Gonzalez participating in the World Baseball Classic, there will be more playing time for the remaining infielders. Dee Gordon, Elian Herrera, Justin Sellers, and the remaining non-roster players like Brian Barden, Omar Luna, and super utility guy Alfredo Amezaga will get some extra playing time.