Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 21/ Road Game 11

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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LOS ANGELES DODGERS (7-10-3) at Texas Rangers (9-9-2)
Saturday, March 16, 2013 – 1:05 p.m. | Surprise Stadium
LHP Clayton Kershaw (2-2, 5.54) vs. LHP Matt Harrison (1-0, 9.00)
TV: None | Radio: KLAC, AM 570

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(pic credit: Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 2013)

SURPRISE PARTY: The Dodgers travel to Surprise to take on the Rangers for the second and final time this spring after tying Texas, 11-11, on March 7 at Camelback Ranch. Dallas native Clayton Kershaw (2-2, 5.54 ERA) will make his fifth start of the spring and is expected to throw up to 90 pitches today after allowing an unearned run in 5.0 innings in his last start on Sunday against the Rockies at Talking Stick. The left-hander, who will turn 25 on Tuesday, has won the last two MLB ERA titles.

SPLITSVILLE: The Dodgers split their day-night doubleheader yesterday, falling to the Padres, 8-7, in Peoria and beating the Royals, 8-1, in the nightcap in Glendale:

• In Peoria, the Dodgers fell, 8-7, to the Padres as San Diego rallied for three runs in the ninth inning off reliever Fabio Castro. The Dodgers had taken the lead with a five-run eighth inning. Starter Aaron Harang allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits in 4.0 innings in a no-decision and reliever Shawn Tolleson fired 1.2 innings of scoreless relief, lowering his spring ERA to 1.59.
• In Glendale, Los Angeles pounded out 14 hits, including four by Juan Uribe and three by Yasiel Puig, in its 8-1 win over the Royals. Stephen Fife picked up the win, allowing just one run on three hits in 4.2 innings, and Paco Rodriguez (1.1 IP), Kenley Jansen (1.0 IP), Kelvin De La Cruz (1.0 IP) and Josh Wall (1.0 IP) all tossed scoreless relief to seal the victory.

PUIG KNOWS: Last night against the Royals, Yasiel Puig went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, a stolen base and a two-run homer in the first inning, his second of the spring. Following the game, Don Mattingly compared Puig to Bo Jackson, citing his combination of power and speed, as Puig ranks among the National League leaders in batting average (.459, 2nd), runs scored (11, T-3rd), hits (17, T-3rd), on-base percentage (.447, 9th) and slugging percentage (.703, 6th).

• The Dodgers rank second in the NL with a .289 team batting average and lead the circuit with a .358 on-base percentage.
• Overall, the Dodgers lead the NL with 27 steals, including six by Dee Gordon, who leads the league.

(pic credit: Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 2013)

BIRTHDAY BOY: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy 30th birthday to right-hander Brandon League today! League enters his second season with Los Angeles after re-signing with the club as a free agent this past offseason. League finished the 2012 campaign on a high note, tossing scoreless relief in 20 of his last 21 appearances with a 0.40 ERA from Aug. 21 through the conclusion of the season.

• League is scheduled to make his fourth official appearance of the spring today, but last pitched on Tuesday in a minor league game against Meiji University. After tossing an inning against the Japanese collegiate squad, League pitched a simulated inning against Carl Crawford.
• Since making his big league debut in 2004, League has posted the seventh-lowest groundball percentage among MLB relievers with a 74.5 mark.
• Minor Leaguer Rusty Ryal, who will wear No. 83 today, is also celebrating his 30th birthday today and has gone 2-for-7 in six games with the big league club this spring.

DIALING IT UP: Kenley Jansen has departed Dodger camp to join Team Netherlands in San Francisco for the semifinal round of the World Baseball Classic.  Jansen struck out one in a scoreless inning last night and has not allowed a run or a hit in his three Cactus League appearances (3.0 IP). The Curacao native played in five games for the Dutch in the 2009 World Baseball Classic as a catcher, batting .077 (1-for-13) with one walk.

• Hanley Ramirez and Team Dominican Republic have already advanced to next week’s semifinal round in San Francisco, but take on Puerto Rico today to determine seeding. Puerto Rico has a pair of Dodger minor leaguers on its roster with right-handers Andres Santiago and Mario Santiago.

IN RELIEF: In addition to League, Texas native Javy Guerra and left-hander J.P. Howell are also expected to see action this afternoon:

• Guerra has made just two official appearances this spring, allowing two hits in 2.0 scoreless innings. He last pitched in a Cactus League game on March 3 against the Indians.
• J.P. Howell last pitched on Tuesday in the minor league game against Meiji University and made his last Cactus League appearance on Saturday with a scoreless inning against the Mariners. After allowing two runs in his first spring game on Feb. 26, Howell has tossed a scoreless inning in both of his last two appearances and last year, established a Tampa Bay franchise record with 27.1 consecutive scoreless frames from June 14-Aug. 30.

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