Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 24/Home Game 10

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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San Francisco Giants (9-15-1) at LOS ANGELES DODGERS (10-10-3)
Friday, March 25, 2016 – 7:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch
LHP Clayton Blackburn (0-1, 4.38) vs. RHP Carlos Frias (0-0, 3.38)
TV: SNLA Radio: KLAC

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(Kershaw and Daughter, pic via Ellen Kershaw on twitter)

BABY STEPS: The Dodgers were unable to win for the first time since March 16 last night, but the silver lining is they didn’t lose either. Los Angeles scored three in the ninth and ended up tying the Cleveland Indians, 5-5, in Goodyear. The club is now 0-7-1 in its last eight contests. Clayton Kershaw made 96 pitches and allowed two runs on seven hits in 5.0 innings, as he prepares for his sixth consecutive Opening Day start. He fanned seven batters and walked three. At the plate, Justin Turner went 2-for-3 with a double, his fifth of the spring in just his sixth game, while AJ. Ellis, Yasiel Puig and Trayce Thompson also collected two hits apiece. Following Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, Chris Hatcher and Scott Barlow all worked a scoreless inning.

• Tonight, the Dodgers take on the Giants for the second time this spring after a 5-2 victory March 6. The Dodgers and Giants meet 19 times this regular season, including four games April 7-10 in San Francisco, which is L.A.’s second series of the year.
• Opening Day, April 4 against the Padres in San Diego is just 10 days away!

OFFENSIVE SURGE: The Dodger offense has been hitting the ball well this spring, ranking among the National League clubs in home runs (27, 6th), slugging percentage (.454, 5th) and OPS (.793, 5th). Individually, Rico Noel’s six stolen bases are tied for third among National League players while Austin Barnes and Rob Segedin are tied for fourth with four homers. Segedin’s .634 slugging percentage ranks fifth among National Leaguers.

• Clayton Kershaw’s 21 strikeouts ranks second among NL pitchers this spring, trailing only former Dodger Juan Nicasio (24), and his 20.0 innings pitched is tops among NL hurlers.

GKG!: Tomorrow night, the Los Angeles Kings will host Dodgers Pride Night when they take on Edmonton at 7:00 p.m. at Staples Center. Dodger legend Eric Karros will drop the ceremonial first puck and fans are invited to purchase a ticket package that includes a ticket to the game and a commemorative Dodgers Pride Night long-sleeve shirt. Visit www.lakings.com/dodgers for more details.

(Don Newcombe and Vin Scully, pic via Jon SooHoo on Dodgers twitter)

THE ONE AND ONLY: The Dodgers would like to welcome Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully to Camelback Ranch this evening. Tonight will officially kick off Scully’s 67th and final season in the broadcast booth for the Dodgers. The Hall of Famer’s 67 years of consecutive service with the Dodger organization is the longest of any sports broadcaster with one team. Scully is set to call Opening Day in San Diego 10 days from now at PETCO Park.

• Dodger legend Don Newcombe is also in town and will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. “Newk” has been a Special Advisor to the Chairman since 2009 and is entering his 59th season with the Dodgers. 

(Seager and Newk, pic via Jon SooHoo on Dodgers twitter)

TONIGHT’S PROBABLE PITCHERS:

• RHP Carlos Frias will make his second start in his sixth appearance of the spring. Frias most recently allowed one run in 2.2 innings Sunday against San Diego. He enters his third big league season after going 5-5 with a 4.06 ERA in 17 games (13 starts) with the Dodgers last season.
• LHP Luis Avilan will pitch in his seventh Cactus League game, last pitching .1 of an inning against Seattle Monday. He combined to go 2-5 with a 4.05 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 73 relief appearances for the Braves and the Dodgers last season.
• LHP Adam Liberatore will take the mound for the ninth time this spring (2 ER/7.1 IP), after most recently striking out one batter in 1.0 scoreless inning against the Royals. Liberatore saw his first big league action last season with the Dodgers, going 2-2 with a 4.25 ERA in 39 games.
• RHP Kenley Jansen will make his eighth relief appearance, after most recently striking out the side in order last night against the Indians. Jansen enters his seventh big league season after successfully converting 36 of 38 save opportunities last year, the third- highest single-season save percentage in team history (Gagne: 2003-100.0%, 2004-95.7%).
• RHP Louis Coleman is expected to make his eighth Cactus League outing (0 ER/7.0 IP), last pitching 1.0 scoreless inning of relief against the Royals. He enters his first season with the Dodgers after signing with the club on Feb. 19, 2016.
• RHP Pedro Baez will pitch in his eighth game of the spring, after striking out all four batters he faced in 1.1 innings of relief against Kansas City. He went 4-2 with a 3.35 ERA in 52 relief appearances last season.

(Broadcasters Joe Davis and Hershiser, pic via Davis on twitter)

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