Editorials

Spring Training Recap: Dodgers’ Pitchers Struggle, Rally Falls Short

Camelback Ranch

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The Los Angeles Dodgers began their 2015 Cactus League schedule Wednesday not with Clayton Kershaw on the mound, but Erik Bedard, who is with the club on a Minor-League deal signed in January.

Bedard quickly went to work against the Chicago White Sox and retired the side in order. Two days after being named the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter for the season, Jimmy Rollins saw multiple pitches against White Sox starter Jose Quintana in an at-bat that ended with a ground out to third base.

Quintana then got Carl Crawford to foul out and struck out Adrian Gonzalez to end the inning. Avisail Garcia hit a one-out double down the right field line with two outs in the second, and came around to score on Alexei Ramirez’s base hit to center.

With two outs, Ramirez stole second as Yasmani Grandal was unable to make a clean transfer, but it didn’t hurt the Dodgers as Bedard got Flowers to line out. Bedard’s day of work ended with one earned run allowed on two hits over two innings.

In their Dodger debut at-bats, neither Howie Kendrick or Yasmani Grandal were able to reach in the bottom of the second. Quintana kept the Dodgers without a hit through two innings as he got Andre Ethier to strike out on a pitch in the dirt.

As the first reliever out of the Dodgers’ bullpen, Juan Nicasio got Carlos Sanchez looking for the first out of the third inning. Beginning with an Adam Eaton infield single, the White Sox mounted a bit of a rally propelled by LaRoche’s two-RBI double to center field that Ethier was unable to corral.

Garcia hit his second double of the game to score another run and the White Sox led 4-0 heading to the bottom of the third. Former Dodger Brad Penny relieved Quintana and got the former White Sox Juan Uribe to ground out.

Joc Pederson then broke up the White Sox’s collective no-hitter with a one-out single to right field in the bottom of the third. Rollins singled to center to put runners on the corners for Crawford, who hit an RBI-single to right field.

Gonzalez was unable to extend the two-out rally as he grounded to second, leaving the Dodgers trailing, 4-1 at the end of three innings. Carlos Frias took over for the Dodgers in the fourth and got Gordon Beckham swinging for the first out.

The White Sox managed to get two runners on with two outs, however Frias escaped trouble by getting his third strikeout of the game.

CONTINUE READING: Dodgers Drop Cactus League Opener Despite Late Rally

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