Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.Wednesday, March 14, 2012 – 7:05 p.m., Goodyear Ball Park
LHP Clayton Kershaw vs. RHP Homer Bailey
Spring Game 11/Road Game 7
Todays Starting Lineup:
Dodgers: Gwynn 8, Ellis 4, Kennedy 3, Sands 9, Oeltjen 7, Uribe 5, Wallach DH, Ellis 2,Upcoming Spring Training Schedule:@SellBlock_12 6, Kershaw LHP
Reds: Stubbs 8, Rodriguez 4, Votto 3, Ludwick 7, Bruce 9, Francisco 5, Janish 6, Mesoraco 2, Miller DH, Bailey p
IT WAS A VERY GOODYEAR: The Dodgers battle the Cincinnati Reds under the lights tonight in Goodyear, AZ. The club saw its modest three-game winning streak snapped yesterday, losing to Colorado, 5-2. Tonight is the Dodgers only meeting with the Reds this spring and the two clubs will lock horns in the regular season from July 2-4 at Dodger Stadium and Sept. 21-23 at Great American Ballpark.
MR. L.A.: Dodger left-hander and reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw makes his second start of the Cactus League season tonight after tossing 3.0 scoreless innings against Texas in Surprise last Friday. Kershaw, who turns 24 on Monday, looks to continue his momentum from the end of last season after he went 8-0 with a 0.96 ERA (7 ER/65.2 IP) and a .192 opponents’ batting average over his last nine 2011 starts. The eight straight wins represent a career-long winning streak for the left-hander. The Texas native took home a number of awards last season, including a Rawlings Gold Glove and the NL Cy Young Award, but was also honored in his hometown by winning the Texas Professional Baseball Player of the Year Award for the second time in the last three years. Kershaw will be followed to the mound by:
● RHP Josh Lindblom, who last pitched on Saturday vs. the White Sox, will be making his third appearance. The 24-year-old right-hander made his Major League debut last season, going 1-0 with a 2.73 ERA in 27 games.
● RHP Jamey Wright last pitched on Saturday in Peoria, giving up one run in 2.0 innings of work. The Oklahoma native is entering his 17th big league season and is looking to make the Dodgers his ninth Major League team (Rockies, Brewers, Cardinals, Royals, Giants, Rangers, Indians and Mariners).
● LHP Michael Antonini has allowed one run over 3.0 innings of work this spring and last pitched on Saturday vs. the White Sox, where he earned the victory. The Pennsylvania native came over in a trade with the Mets last offseason and won 10 games in 27 starts for Double-A Chattanooga last year.
● RHP Will Savage has fired 2.0 scoreless innings this spring and last pitched on Sunday vs. the Cubs. Savage graduated from El Camino Real High School in the San Fernando Valley.
(Photo credit: Juan Ocampo/ LA Dodgers 2012)
SIMPLY THE BEST: National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw will be presented with the 2011 Sportsman of the Year award at tomorrow’s seventh annual LA Sports Awards, which are presented annually by the Los Angeles Sports Council to celebrate the greatest moments of the year in sports in the Los Angeles/Orange County area. The Sportsman award is given to the local male athlete whose performance and character best exemplified the ideals of sportsmanship during the calendar year. Kershaw will leave camp to fly back to Los Angeles for the event and will be available to the media at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles at 5:45 p.m.
ALL PHASES: The Dodgers have the National League’s second-lowest team ERA this spring with a 3.10 mark and rank third on the circuit with a .280 team batting average. Outfielder Cory Sullivan leads the club and is tied for fifth among all National Leaguers with a .412 batting average (7-for-17). Sullivan is tied with Juan Rivera and Justin Sellers for the most RBI on the squad with six.
(Photo credit: Juan Ocampo/ LA Dodgers 2012)
WAIT...WE LOST?: The Dodgers lost for just the second time all spring yesterday, falling to the Rockies, 5-2. The defeat snapped a seven-game unbeaten streak and left Los Angeles with a record of 6-2-2. On the mound, Fernando Nieve tossed 2.1 scoreless innings while Ramon Troncoso and Stephen Fife each threw a scoreless frame. At the plate, the Dodgers managed six hits, including a double by Tony Gwynn Jr. (.308). and a triple by Scott Van Slyke (.357). Matt Treanor and Luis Cruz drove in the Dodger runs.
- REST IN PEACE: The Dodger family was saddened to learn about the passing of longtime Brooklyn and L.A. Dodger minor league general manager Elten Schiller. Schiller worked for the organization from 1947-71 and in 1961 while working for the Omaha Dodgers, he was named the Minor League Executive of the Year. Thoughts and prayers are with his children, Carol, Jeff and Linda.
