Dodgers Start Spring With A Win

The Dodgers preseason officially begins with a win. Though it was the reserves who provided the offense, Chad Billingsley was strong in his first start of 2012.

Final Score: Dodgers 6, White Sox 4

Highlights

-Chad Billingsley faced just seven batters in two scoreless innings, allowing a single to Alexei Ramirez in the second.
-Scott Van Slyke homered to put the Dodgers up 5-1 in the 6th. Van Slyke hit 20 home runs last year in Chattanooga.
-The kids provided most of the offense today. In addition to Van Slyke's home run, Justin Sellers doubled and Ivan De Jesus tripled. Alex Castellanos added a hit and non-roster invitee Josh Fields singled and doubled.
-Andre Ethier doubled to leadoff the second inning and came around to score on James Loney's groundout. A.J. Ellis also doubled in the 5th inning.

Lowlights

-Matt Kemp went 0 for 2 with a strikeout, proving that he is, in fact, human. Dee Gordon and Mark Ellis, hitting before him, also went 0 for 2.
-James Loney, while collecting an RBI groundout and a single, was thrown out at home in the 5th on Ellis' double. Discretion is the better part of valor.
-Nathan Eovaldi, who could have competed for a spot in the rotation prior to the Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang signings, struggled with his control in his second inning. He only allowed one run and did manage to strikeout three, though.
-NRI Ryan Tucker struggled to close out the game, allowing a pair of runs in the 9th. Fernando Nieve also allowed a run in his only inning of work.
-Russell Mitchell, Tim Federowicz and Jeff Bailey also went hitless.

Up Next

Ted Lilly makes his 2012 debut against the Giants at 12:05pm.