Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Game 23

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (11-7-4) at Milwaukee Brewers (7-12-2)

Sunday, March 25, 2012 – 1:05 p.m., Maryvale Baseball Park

LHP Clayton Kershaw vs. RHP Shaun Marcum

Spring Game 23/Road Game 13

Todays Starting Lineup:

Dodgers: Hairston SS, Kennedy 2B, Gwynn CF, Oeltjen LF, Cruz 3B, Sands RF, @jamesloney_7 1B, @AJEllis17 C, Kershaw P
Brewers: RF Aoki, 1B Conrad, 2B Weeks, 3B Ramirez, C Lucroy, SS Izturis, CF Patterson, LF Schafer, P Marcum

Upcoming Spring Training Schedule:

(pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2012)

• ROLL OUT THE BARRELS: The Dodgers face the Brew Crew for the second and final time this spring after defeating Milwaukee, 7-6, on Tuesday in Glendale. Los Angeles lost the 2011 season series, 4-2, to the Brewers and the two clubs will meet seven times this year, all in the first two months of the season.

• SOUNDS KERSH-AWESOME: Clayton Kershaw takes the mound this afternoon for his fourth start of the spring after suffering the loss in the Dodgers’ 4-3 defeat on Monday against the Indians. Kershaw (2-1, 0.73) allowed his first run of the spring in 5.1 innings in the defeat and has limited opposing hitters to a .163 batting average with 11 strikeouts in 12.1 Cactus League innings. He will be followed to the mound by:

  ● RHP Josh Lindblom has tossed scoreless relief in five of his six Cactus League appearances, last pitching on Friday against the Royals. The Indiana native has limited opponents to a .231 batting average (6-for-26) this spring.

  ● LHP Scott Rice will make his first appearance since Wednesday against San Diego after a battle with strep throat. Rice, 30, has pitched 5.0 scoreless innings in his five appearances this spring and limited opponents to a .176 batting average (3-for-17).

  ● LHP John Grabow will be pitching in back-to-back games after coming in with two men on and forcing an inning-ending groundout yesterday against the Indians. Grabow, a non-roster invitee, has not allowed a run in his six appearances this spring with seven strikeouts and just one walk in 6.0 innings.

(Congratulations to the 2011 AZL Dodgers on receiving their Arizona League championship rings, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2012)

• ROSTER UPDATE: Yesterday, the Dodgers reassigned RHP Angel Guzman, LHP Wilfredo Ledezma and RHP Fernando Nieve to minor league camp. After yesterday’s cuts, 41 players remain in big league camp.

• FEELS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY: The Dodgers rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning yesterday to beat the Indians, 5-4, at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. Luis Cruz raised his batting average to .350 with a two-out, two-run triple to tie the game and then scored the go-ahead run on Cory Sullivan’s RBI single. Chris Capuano (1-1, 3.29) struck out five and allowed two runs in 5.0 innings in his fourth Cactus League start as the Dodgers improved to 9-3-3 against AL clubs. Andre Ethier roped his seventh double of the spring in the victory, which is tied for the National League lead.

• A MARCH TO MADNESS: Congratulations to Dodger outfielder Matt Angle on his Ohio State Buckeyes advancing to the NCAA Final Four last night with a victory over Syracuse! Angle was a three-year letter winner in Columbus and a two-time All-Big Ten selection. Today’s hoops action will be of particular interest to catcher Tim Federowicz and Head Athletic Trainer Sue Falsone, who attended the University of North Carolina, and will be rooting for the Tar Heels to advance against Kansas.

(pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2012)

• SPEE-DEE: Dee Gordon went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in yesterday’s win for his fourth consecutive multi-hit game. The 23-year-old ranks among the National League leaders in batting average (.415, 2^nd), runs scored (12, T-1^st), steals (8, 2^nd) and on-base percentage (.489, 3^rd) in 15 games this spring.

• GETTING OFFENSIVE: The Dodgers are 11-7-4 this spring, which is tied for the third-best record in the Cactus League, and have been one of the National League’s best offensive teams. Los Angeles leads the Senior Circuit in team batting average (.289), ranks second in on-base percentage (.357) and has posted the third-highest slugging percentage (.452). The Dodgers have also fared well on the mound with their 3.41 team ERA ranking third in the NL.

• ON THE BACK FIELDS: RHP Kenley Jansen, RHP Mike MacDougal and RHP Todd Coffey will pitch today against Kansas City minor leaguers on the back fields at Camelback Ranch. All three pitched in yesterday’s game against Cleveland with Coffey and Jansen firing scoreless innings, while MacDougal allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in 0.2 innings.

• HIGH NUMBERS: The Dodgers will have eight minor leaguers joining the team today in Maryvale, with pitchers Shawn Tolleson (93), Brent Leach (96) and Tim Sexton (97), catcher Salomon Manriquez (90), infielders Rafael Ynoa (87), Luis Nunez (88) and Tyler Henson (94) and outfielder Chris Pettit (89). Leach and Pettit have both appeared in the Majors with Leach making 38 relief appearances with the Dodgers in 2009 and Pettit batting .286 in 11 games with the Angels in 2009 and 2011.

  ● Tolleson, the Dodgers’ 2011 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, has made two appearances for the big league club this spring, allowing one run in 2.0 innings. He closed out the Dodgers’ 17-4 victory in Tucson on Friday with a strikeout and two groundouts in a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Game 22

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.

Cleveland Indians (6-12-3) at LOS ANGELES DODGERS (10-7-4)

Saturday, March 24, 2012 – 1:05 p.m., Camelback Ranch - Glendale

RHP Derek Lowe vs. LHP Chris Capuano

Spring Game 22/Home Game 10

Todays Starting Lineup:

Dodgers: Gordon 6, M Ellis 4, Kemp 8, Ethier 9, Rivera 7, Loney 3, Uribe 5, AJ Ellis 2, Capuano 1
Indians: Donald SS, Kipnis 2B, Cabrera DH, LaPorta LF, Kotchman 1B, LaRoche 3B, Spilborghs CF, Cunningham RF, Marson C with Lowe P

Upcoming Spring Training Schedule:

(Pic via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012)

• HOME SWEET HOME: The Dodgers battle the Indians for the second and final time this spring after dropping a 4-3 decision in Goodyear on Monday. Former Dodger Derek Lowe, who went 54-48 with a 3.59 ERA in 137 games (135 starts) with the Dodgers from 2005-08, will get the start for the Tribe this afternoon. The two teams have not played in the regular season since 2008 with Los Angeles holding a 4-2 advantage in the all-time series.

• TIP YOUR CAP: Dodger left-hander Chris Capuano will make his fourth start of the spring today after allowing one run on two hits in 4.0 innings on Sunday against the Angels. The 33-year-old has 10 strikeouts in 8.2 innings this spring and has limited opposing hitters to a .188 batting average (6-for-32). He will be followed to the mound by:

  ● RHP Jamey Wright pitched 2.0 scoreless innings in his Wednesday start against the Padres and has not allowed an earned run in his last three outings (4.0 IP).

  ● RHP Mike MacDougal last pitched on Wednesday and fired a scoreless inning against the Padres. MacDougal has tossed scoreless relief in four of his five appearances this spring.

  ● RHP Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless inning of relief on Wednesday against the Padres and has tossed scoreless relief in four of his five appearances. Jansen has limited opposing hitters to a .222 batting average (4-for-18) this spring with five strikeouts.

  ● RHP Todd Coffey allowed three runs on four hits in his 1.0 inning of relief on Wednesday against San Diego. He’s allowed runs in each of his last two appearances after striking out three and not allowing a baserunner in his first two outings this spring.

  ● LHP John Grabow has not allowed a run in five appearances this spring (5.2 IP), while limiting opposing hitters to a .211 batting average (4-for-19). Grabow last pitched on Wednesday with a scoreless inning against San Diego.

(Matt Kemp, Pic via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012)

• DREAMING BIG: Earlier today, the Dodgers Dream Foundation, in partnership with the LA84 Foundation and the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, unveiled a new Dodgers Dreamfield at Harbor City Recreation Center. Since the beginning of 2011, the Dodgers Dream Foundation and the LA84 Foundation have created 12 new Dodgers Dreamfields in the greater Los Angeles area, increasing the total number of Dreamfields to 21. The dedication was followed by a clinic led by Dodger alumni Bobby Castillo, Kenny Landreaux, Bill Russell and Derrel Thomas.

• DOWN BY THE RIVER: Over on the minor league side, RHP Ronald Belisario, RHP Angel Guzman and LHP Wilfredo Ledezma will pitch in a minor league game against White Sox farmhands. Jerry Sands and Tony Gwynn Jr. will also be participating in minor league games this afternoon to pick up extra at-bats.

• SPLITSVILLE: The Dodgers split a pair of games yesterday with a 17-4 win over the White Sox in Tucson and a 2-0 loss to the Royals in Surprise:

  ● The Los Angeles offense erupted for 23 hits in the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation benefit game in Tucson, including Matt Kemp’s solo home run in the third inning. Nathan Eovaldi lowered his ERA to 0.84 with 3.0 scoreless innings in his third start (fourth game).

  ● It was a different story in Surprise as the Dodgers were held to just four hits by the Royals. Aaron Harang pitched well in defeat, allowing just one run in 5.0 innings.

  

(Pic via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012)

• THE CHAMPS ARE HERE: Prior to today’s game, the Dodgers will present 51 championship rings to Manager Jody Reed and members of the Rookie-level Arizona League Dodgers, who posted a 34-22 record and beat the Giants, 4-2, in a one-game championship showdown to win the league title. It was the first championship for a Dodger minor league team since Jacksonville won the Southern League title in 2005. Dodger Manager Don Mattingly helped present the rings, which are made of sterling silver with a raised “LA” logo on the ring’s face.

• GIVING BACK: Earlier today, Dodger All-Star outfielder Andre Ethier joined New Balance and the Going to Bat Foundation in presenting the Camelback High School Varsity baseball team with new uniforms and spikes. As part of their partnership, New Balance will also support Ethier’s charitable efforts in Los Angeles with the Union Rescue Mission.

• CONGRATS TOMMY: Special Advisor to the Chairman and Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda will be honored at a gala in Manhattan Beach tonight by the Toberman Youth Center. Lasorda, along with World War II hero Louis Zamperini, will receive their Character & Courage Award as they honor leaders from the Greatest Generation with the goal of teaching those virtues in future generations. Lasorda agreed to be honored at the request of Bill and Joyce Sharman, who work closely with the youth center.

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Day 29

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.

San Diego Padres (10-8) at LOS ANGELES DODGERS (9-5-4)

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 – 1:05 p.m., Camelback Ranch - Glendale

RHP Tim Stauffer vs. RHP Jamey Wright

Spring Game 19/Home Game 10

Todays Starting Lineup:

Dodgers: @skinnyswag9 SS, M Ellis 2B, @TheRealMattKemp CF, @jamesloney_7 1B, Rivera LF, Gwynn RF, Hairston 3B, @AJEllis17 C, Wright P
Padres: Maybin CF, Hundson 2B, Guzman LF,Alonso 1B, Denorfia RF, Darnell 3B, Grandal C, Cabrera SS, Stauffer P

Upcoming Spring Training Schedule:

(Spring Training Insider: Andre Ethier is interviewed by @Kirkjian_ESPN as the @ESPN_BBTN bus rolls thru @CamelbackRanch, via twitter @Dodgers)

• THE PAD SQUAD: The Dodgers and Padres square off for the first time this spring with the two clubs meeting again next Tuesday in Peoria. Los Angeles went 13-5 against San Diego last season, tying for its second-best single-season record against the Padres, and the two clubs will meet for an Opening Day showdown on April 5 at PETCO Park. The Dodgers enter play today with the third best record in the Cactus League at 9-5-4 and rank among National League team leaders in batting average (.286, 3^rd), on-base percentage (.357, T-1^st), slugging percentage (.458, 3^rd) and ERA (3.48, 4^th).

• THE WRIGHT STUFF: Jamey Wright makes his first start of the spring today after firing a scoreless inning of relief on Saturday against the Giants and has posted a 3.60 ERA (2 ER/5.0 IP) in four Cactus League appearances. Wright, who began his career as a starting pitcher, has not started a Major League game since 2007 and is 69-101 with a 5.13 ERA in his 246 career starts. Last season, Wright made eight appearances for Seattle of 2.0 or more innings and did not allow a run in those outings, limiting opponents to a .172 batting average (10-for-58) with 18 strikeouts in 18.0 innings. Since 2005, Wright has been one of the most effective pitchers at forcing ground balls and ranks seventh among Major League relievers in that span with 654 grounders induced. Following Wright to the mound today will be:

  ● RHP Todd Coffey last pitched in a game on Thursday, allowing one run on three hits in 1.0 inning against the Royals, but threw 2.0 innings in a simulated game on Sunday. Coffey has limited opposing hitters to a .231 batting average this spring (3-for-13) with three strikeouts in 3.1 innings.

  ● RHP Kenley Jansen struck out two in a scoreless inning on Monday against the Indians in Goodyear and has five strikeouts in his 4.0 Cactus League innings. Jansen has not walked a batter this spring and has limited opponents to a .214 batting average (3-for-14).

  ● LHP Scott Rice last pitched on Friday and picked up the save with a scoreless ninth inning against the Rangers. Rice has five strikeouts in 4.0 scoreless innings this spring and has limited hitters to a .143 batting average (2-for-14).

  ● LHP John Grabow allowed one hit and struck out three in a scoreless inning of relief on Sunday against the Angels. Grabow has fanned six in 4.2 scoreless innings this spring.

  ● RHP Fernando Nieve last pitched on Saturday, allowing two runs in 2.0 innings against the Rockies. Nieve has allowed three runs in 7.2 innings in four appearances this spring (3.68 ERA)

  ● RHP Mike MacDougal set down the Angels in order on Sunday, forcing three groundball outs before the rains came. MacDougal has allowed four runs in 3.1 innings this spring, with all the damage coming during a 0.1 inning appearance last Thursday against the Royals.

  ● RHP Ronald Belisario last pitched on Saturday against the Giants, striking out one in a scoreless inning. Belisario has allowed four runs (three earned) in 3.0 innings this spring.

(Los Angeles Dodgers win against the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday March 20,2012 at Camelback Ranch-Glendale in Phoenix Arizona. © Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

• DOWN BY THE RIVER: While the Dodgers battle the Padres in the stadium at Camelback Ranch, left-hander Ted Lilly will appear in a minor league game on the back fields. Lilly is expected to throw 5.0 innings against the Indians minor leaguers after last pitching on Friday and tossing 4.0 scoreless frames against the Rangers. Lilly has not allowed a run since his first outing, giving him 7.0 consecutive scoreless innings, and has limited hitters to a .229 average this spring. Catcher Matt Treanor will also play in the game.

• SOMETHING’S BREWING: Dee Gordon had three hits, including a double, a triple and two runs scored, as the Dodgers downed the Brew Crew 7-6 yesterday. Mark Ellis and Matt Kemp both had multi-hit games, with Ellis driving in three and scoring twice. Andre Ethier registered his 10^th extra-base hit of the spring with his two-run homer in the fifth inning, which raised his slugging percentage to 1.080 in 11 games.

  ● Los Angeles’ four draws this spring tie for the second-most all time by the club along with the 2002 and 2008 campaigns. The Dodger record for Spring Training ties was set in 2006, when the team went 15-13-5.

(Dee Gordon steps on first heading to second during game against the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday March 20,2012 at Camelback Ranch-Glendale in Phoenix Arizona. © Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

• OH HAPPY DAY: The Dodgers would like to wish a happy 74^th birthday to Tommy Davis, who played eight seasons in Dodger blue from 1959-66. Davis just completed a five-day stint as a guest minor league instructor with the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch.

• TUCSON TUSSLE: This Friday, the Dodgers and White Sox will play a Cactus League game at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tucson with all the proceeds going to the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation. The Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Fund was established by Dodger scout John Green and his family to honor the life and memory of his daughter, Christina-Taylor, through charitable and educational projects that reflect and embody her interests, values and dreams. This is the second straight year that the Dodgers have played a benefit game in Tucson to help raise funds for the victims and families affected by the tragic events of January 8, 2011.

  ● The Dodgers also play a split-squad game against the Royals in Surprise on Friday, but the majority of the club’s regulars will head to Tucson with Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Juan Rivera, Mark Ellis, A.J. Ellis, Dee Gordon, Tony Gwynn Jr. and Jerry Hairston Jr. volunteering to play in the benefit game.

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Day 27

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (8-4-4) at Cleveland Indians (4-10-3)

Monday, March 19, 2012 – 1:05 p.m., Goodyear Ballpark

LHP Clayton Kershaw vs. RHP Jeanmar Gomez

Spring Game 17/Road Game 9

Todays Starting Lineup:

Dodgers: @skinnyswag9 SS, M Ellis 2B, Gwynn LF, Kennedy 1B, Uribe 3B, Oeltjen RF, @AJEllis17 C, Angle CF, Capuano LHP
Indians: Brantley cf Donald ss Choo rf Santana ca Lopez 3b Kotchman 1b Duncan dh Kipnis 2b Canzler lf Gomez p

Upcoming Spring Training Schedule:

(Pic via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012)

• CLEVELAND ROCKS: The Dodgers make the short trip to Goodyear to tangle with the Tribe for the first time this spring. The two clubs meet again on Saturday at Camelback Ranch – Glendale and have not played in the regular season since 2008. Los Angeles holds a 4-2 advantage in the teams’ six all-time Interleague meetings.
• BIRTHDAY BOY: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy 24^th birthday to today’s starter, Clayton Kershaw! The left-hander takes the mound for his third Cactus League start after striking out six and allowing just one hit in 4.0 scoreless innings on Wednesday in this same ballpark against the Reds. Kershaw has allowed just four hits (4-for-24, .167) this spring and yet to allow a run in his 7.0 innings. Kershaw will be followed to the mound by:
  ● LHP Scott Elbert struck out two and walked one in a scoreless inning on Friday against the Rangers. The 26-year-old has not allowed a run and has struck out five in 3.0 innings this spring.
  ● RHP Javy Guerra walked one in a scoreless frame on Friday against the Rangers. The 26-year-old is limiting opponents to a .111 batting average this spring (1-for-9) and has not allowed a run in his three appearances (3.0 IP).
  ● RHP Kenley Jansen gave up a pair of solo home runs in his last outing on Friday against the Rangers. The 24-year-old set a Major League record last season by averaging 16.10 strikeouts per 9.0 innings.
  ● LHP Scott Rice picked up the save with a scoreless 1.0 inning to close out the Dodgers’ 5-2 win over the Rangers on Friday. The 6-6 Simi Valley native has given up just two hits (2-for-14, .143) and has not allowed a run in his 4.0 innings this spring.

(Clayton Kershaw signing for the fans, pic via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012)

• MAKING MOVES: The Dodgers made a flurry of roster moves following yesterday’s game by reassigning infielders Lance Zawadzki and Jeff Baisley along with catchers Gorman Erickson and Matt Wallach to minor league camp. Prior to the game, the club reassigned LHP Matt Chico, RHP Will Savage and RHP Ryan Tucker to minor league camp. In addition, the club gave LHP Alberto Castillo his outright release. After the most recent moves, 45 players remain in big league camp.
• WINDSOR KNOT: The Dodgers and Angels played to a rain-shortened 1-1 tie yesterday before the storms closed in on Camelback Ranch after the top of the sixth inning. Adam Kennedy, who is batting .318 this spring, doubled and scored the Dodgers’ only run of the contest on Juan Uribe’s RBI single in the fifth. Chris Capuano struck out three and allowed just one run in 4.0 innings, which his lowered spring ERA to 3.12, and John Grabow and Mike MacDougal each fired a scoreless 1.0 inning of relief.
  ● Los Angeles’ four draws this spring tie for the second-most all time by the club along with the 2002 and 2008 campaigns. The Dodger record for Spring Training ties was set in 2006, when the team went 15-13-5.

(Vin Scully sits down with Dylan Hernandez, pic via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012)

• PACKING THE RANCH: Despite the rain and cold yesterday, 13,648 fans turned out for the Dodgers-Angels game at Camelback Ranch – Glendale for the second-largest crowd in Cactus League history, behind only Saturday’s crowd of 13,655 for the Dodgers-Giants game. The Dodgers have hosted four of the five best attended games in Cactus League history.
• GOLDEN CACTUS: The Dodgers enter play today with the third-best record in the Cactus League with an 8-4-4 mark, trailing the Athletics by 2.5 games and Giants by 1.5 games in the standings. Los Angeles has the second-best team batting average among National League clubs this spring with a .284 mark and its 3.33 team ERA ranks third. The Dodgers are tied with St. Louis for the top NL on-base percentage with a .357 mark. Individually, Andre Ethier leads all National Leaguers with six doubles and leads the team with a .474 batting average (9-for-19) and a 1.053 slugging percentage in nine games.
• TUCSON TUSSLE: This Friday, the Dodgers and White Sox will play a Cactus League game at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tucson with all the proceeds going to the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation. The Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Fund was established by Dodger scout John Green and his family to honor the life and memory of his daughter, Christina-Taylor, through charitable and educational projects that reflect and embody her interests, values and dreams. This is the second straight year that the Dodgers have played a benefit game in Tucson to help raise funds for the victims and families affected by the tragic events of January 8, 2011.
  ● The Dodgers also play a split-squad game against the Royals in Surprise on Friday, but the majority of the club’s regulars will head to Tucson with Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Juan Rivera, Mark Ellis, A.J. Ellis, Dee Gordon, Tony Gwynn Jr. and Jerry Hairston Jr. volunteering to play in the benefit game.

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Day 26

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.

Los Angeles Angels (9-6) at LOS ANGELES DODGERS (8-4-3)

Sunday, March 18, 2012 – 1:05 p.m., Camelback Ranch - Glendale

RHP Dan Haren vs. LHP Chris Capuano

Spring Game 16/Home Game 8

Todays Starting Lineup:

Dodgers: @skinnyswag9 SS, M Ellis 2B, Gwynn LF, Kennedy 1B, Uribe 3B, Oeltjen RF, @AJEllis17 C, Angle CF, Capuano LHP
Angels: Amarista 2B Calhoun LF Pujols 1B Trumbo 3B Conger C Langerhans RF Romine SS Long CF Haren P

Upcoming Spring Training Schedule:

(James Loney on St. Patrick's Day, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2012)

• SUNDAY FUN DAY: The Dodgers and Angels will collide for the final time during 2012 Cactus League play this afternoon at a sold out Camelback Ranch – Glendale, following the Dodgers’ blowout win at Tempe Diablo Stadium last Monday (9-1). However, the two Southern California squads will meet in an exhibition Freeway Series from April 2-4 and then during the regular season, the Dodgers and Halos will meet six times, starting with a three-game set at Dodger Stadium from June 11-13. In 2011, the Angels won the series, 4-2, taking two of three contests at both Dodger and Angel Stadium last summer.

• HURLERS: Left-hander Chris Capuano takes the mound for his third start of the spring season today and is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA (2 ER/4.2 IP) thus far. Capuano last pitched Tuesday vs. Colorado and allowed two runs in 2.2 innings. The Massachusetts native has been especially tough against left-handers over the course of his career, limiting them to a .229 batting average, a .290 on-base percentage and a .341 slugging percentage. Capuano will be followed to the mound by:

  ● RHP Mike MacDougal last pitched on Thursday vs. Kansas City and took the loss, allowing four earned runs in 0.1 innings. Last season, MacDougal was a key cog in the Dodgers’ bullpen, ranking second on the club with a career-high 69 appearances and posting a 2.05 ERA in 57.0 innings.

  ● LHP John Grabow tossed 1.2 scoreless innings on Thursday vs. Kansas City. The left-hander is looking to make the club as a non-roster invitee and thus far has fired 3.2 scoreless frames while limiting hitters to a .231 average.

  ● RHP Angel Guzman tossed 1.0 scoreless inning on Thursday and has yet to give up a run in 4.1 innings of work. The native of Venezuela is limiting the opposition to a .071 batting average this spring.

  ● LHP Wilfredo Ledezma worked a scoreless frame on Friday vs. Texas, lowering his spring ERA to 2.08 (1 ER/4.1 IP) in four appearances. Batters are hitting just .141 against him.

(Nathan Eovaldi, pic via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012)

• MAKING MOVES: Today the Dodgers reassigned LHP Matt Chico, RHP Will Savage and RHP Ryan Tucker to minor league camp. In addition, the club gave LHP Alberto Castillo his outright release.

• ...AND NEW CHAMPION!: The Dodgers and Giants played to a 3-3 tie last night in front of a Cactus League record crowd of 13,655 fans. The new attendance record marks Camelback Ranch – Glendale’s fifth top-10 crowd since Cactus League’s largest stadium opened in 2009. In addition to last night’s contest, Dodgers’ games hold three of the other spots in the top 10: No. 3 on March 27, 2010 vs. Seattle (13,583), No. 4 on March 20, 2010 vs. San Diego (13,506) and No. 9 on March 18, 2010 vs. the Cubs (13,391).

• On the field, infielder Luis Cruz hit his first home run of the spring, while Jamey Wright, Josh Lindblom, Ramon Troncoso and Ronald Belisario all tossed scoreless innings.

(The Dodgers Press Box, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2012)

• HALL OF FAME SUNDAY: For the second consecutive game, Dodger fans can hear Hall of Fame broadcasters Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrín calling games on KCAL 9 and KTNQ, respectively. Scully is entering his 63^rd year with the club and Jarrín will be behind the microphone for his 54^th season in 2012.

• GRAY BEARDS: Believe it or not, the longest tenured Dodgers are first baseman James Loney and right fielder Andre Ethier. Loney made his debut for the Dodgers on Opening Day 2006 and Ethier was called up May 2, 2006. When it comes to service time with the club, All-Star outfielders Ethier (5.153) and Matt Kemp (5.049) as well as starter Chad Billingsley (5.110) all trump Loney (5.012), the club’s first round draft pick in 2002. The old guys aren’t doing so bad this spring as Ethier leads all National Leaguers with six doubles and is tied for seventh with 20 total bases. Ethier’s .474 average (9-for-19) leads the club, but Loney isn’t far behind, batting .353 (6-for-17) in just seven games.

• HOLDING STEADY: The Dodgers enter today’s contest with the second-best Spring Training record among National League clubs at 8-4-3, trailing just the Giants (11-4-3). Los Angeles also owns the third-best team ERA among NL clubs with a 3.41 mark and the second-highest team batting average at .289.

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Day 23

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.

Kansas City Royals (6-6) at LOS ANGELES DODGERS (7-2-2)

Thursday, March 15, 2012 – 1:05 p.m., Camelback Ranch

RHP Chad Billingsley vs. LHP Danny Duffy

Spring Game 12/Home Game 5

Todays Starting Lineup:

Dodgers: Gordon 6, Hairston 5, Kemp 8, Rivera 3, Ethier 9, De Jesus 4, Treanor 2, Sullivan 7, Billingsley 1
Royals: Gordon SS, Giavotella 2B, Hosmer DH, Butler 1B, Moustakas 3B, Cain CF, Betancourt SS, Maier RF, Pena C, Duffy LHP

Upcoming Spring Training Schedule:

(The @DesertDoyer has arrived, via twitter)

• FEELING BLUE: The Cactus League-leading Dodgers play the Royals this afternoon for the first time this spring with the teams meeting again in Surprise on March 23. Los Angeles and Kansas City haven’t met in the regular season since 2005, with the Royals holding a 4-2 advantage in the all-time series. While the Dodgers won’t be heading to KC in 2012, members of the Blue Crew have their sights set on Kauffman Stadium and an All-Star selection for the Midsummer Classic on July 10.

• ROSTER UPDATE: Today the Dodgers optioned RHP Chris Withrow, LHP Michael Antonini, RHP Stephen Fife, RHP Josh Wall, OF Scott Van Slyke, OF Alfredo Silverio and IF/OF Alex Castellanos to minor league camp. In addition, the club reassigned RHP Shane Lindsay and IF Russ Mitchell to minor league camp

(Kershaw pitching to Votto, pic via twitter @chrisbondra)

• HILLTOPPERS: Chad Billingsley makes his third start of the spring after allowing three runs on six hits in 2.1 innings on Saturday night against the White Sox. The Dodgers will forgo the designated hitter for the first time this spring today with Billingsley batting ninth in the Los Angeles lineup. Last season, the 27-year-old ranked fifth among pitchers with a .268 slugging percentage and tied for fifth with three doubles. Billingsley will be followed to the mound by:

  ● RHP Mike MacDougal allowed one hit in a scoreless inning on Sunday against the Cubs and has tossed 2.0 scoreless frames this spring. MacDougal re-signed with Los Angeles as a free agent and ranked seventh among NL relievers with a 2.05 ERA last season.

  ● RHP Todd Coffey last pitched on Sunday against the Cubs, striking out one in a scoreless inning. Coffey has not allowed a baserunner in his two appearances this spring and has struck out three of the six batters he’s faced.

  ● LHP John Grabow allowed two hits in his last appearance against Chicago-NL on Sunday, but escaped the 1.0 inning without any damage. He’s tossed 2.0 scoreless frames this spring after signing a minor league contract with the Dodgers this past offseason after three seasons with the Cubs.

  ● LHP Alberto Castillo has limited opponents to a .143 batting average (1-for-7) in his two Cactus League appearances this spring. He fired a scoreless inning on Sunday against the Cubs in his most recent outing.

• RED HOT: Clayton Kershaw improved to 2-0 and struck out six in his 4.0 scoreless innings last night as Los Angeles defeated the Reds 9-1 in Goodyear. A.J. Ellis and Adam Kennedy launched their first home runs of the spring season and Trent Oeltjen came within inches of an inside-the-park home run, but had to settle for a two-run triple when he was tagged out at home plate by the immovable Cincinnati catcher Devin Mesoraco. The Reds’ only run of the night was unearned in the fifth inning against Jamey Wright and Josh Lindblom, Josh Wall, Michael Antonini and Will Savage each fired a scoreless inning in relief.

(Pic via twitter @PatLagreid)

• FROM THE REDS TO THE RED CARPET: National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw will be presented with the 2011 Sportsman of the Year award tonight at the seventh annual LA Sports Awards, which are held 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.

• WELCOME, NEWK!: The Dodgers would like to welcome Special Advisor to the Chairman Don Newcombe to Camelback Ranch – Glendale. Newcombe, who is in town all weekend, will address both the Major and minor leaguers in camp and throw a ceremonial first pitch prior to the sold out Dodgers-Giants game on Saturday night.

• ALL PHASES: The Dodgers have the National League’s lowest team ERA this spring with a 2.82 mark and rank fifth on the circuit with a .283 team batting average. Outfielder Cory Sullivan leads the club and ranks fifth among all National Leaguers with a .389 batting average. After last night’s victory, Clayton Kershaw is tied for the NL lead with two wins and a 0.00 ERA.

• THE GANG’S ALL HERE: The Dodgers would like to welcome Dodger Stadium organist Nancy Bea Hefley and her husband, Bill, to Camelback Ranch today for their first-ever Spring Training trip. Hefley started as the Dodger Stadium organist in 1988 and the 2012 season will be her 25^th year with the Dodgers.

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Day 19

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.

Chicago Cubs (4-3) at LOS ANGELES DODGERS (4-1-2)

Sunday, March 11, 2012 – 12:05 p.m., Camelback Ranch - Glendale

LHP Ted Lilly vs. RHP Matt Garza

Spring Game 8/Home Game 3

Todays Starting Lineup:

Dodgers: Gwynn DH, MEllis 2B, Loney 1B, Sands LF, Uribe 3B, Oeltjen RF, Federowicz C, Selelrs SS, Angle CF, Lilly LHP
Cubs: DeJesus RF, Baker 2B, Castro SS, DeWitt 3B, Byrd CF, Johnson LF, W. Castillo C, Rizzo 1B, Garza P

Upcoming Spring Training Schedule:

(A gorgeous pic from twitter @JessRosales1)

• SPRING FORWARD!: After a win and a tie yesterday, the Dodgers take on the Cubs this afternoon in their first of two spring meetings with the rematch taking place on March 30 in Mesa. With three wins and a tie in its last four games, Los Angeles has the Cactus League’s best record with a 4-1-2 mark through seven contests. The Dodgers also have the best record among National League clubs and trail only Detroit (6-1, .857) for the Majors’ best mark so far in the spring season.

• GETTING OFFENSIVE: Los Angeles ranks fourth among National League teams with a .290 team batting average and is scoring an average of 6.29 runs per contest (44 runs) through its first seven games. The Dodgers lead NL clubs with a .380 team on-base percentage and have also hit for power, slugging 10 homers and posting a .498 team slugging percentage.

(Kemp injured, Tommy ran him over, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2012)

• DOUBLEHEADER: Los Angeles played a pair of Cactus League contests yesterday, tying the Mariners 5-5 in Peoria in an afternoon tilt and defeating the White Sox 10-6 last night at Camelback Ranch. The first game was highlighted by 3.0 scoreless innings by Nathan Eovaldi and a clutch two-out, two-run single by Josh Fields in the eighth inning to tie the game at five runs apiece. Fields had two hits in the contest and is batting .636 (7-for-11) with two doubles, a triple and two RBI in five games this spring. Cory Sullivan’s ninth-inning grand slam was the difference in the nightcap as Los Angeles won the back-and-forth marathon over the White Sox. Juan Rivera and Jerry Hairston Jr. also homered in the victory.

• HEY, I KNOW YOU: Ted Lilly takes the mound today for his second Cactus League start and faces Chicago, where he pitched from 2007-2010 before being acquired by the Dodgers at the trade deadline. The 36-year-old finished the 2011 campaign on a roll, posting the Majors’ lowest opponents’ batting average (.169) over the final two months of the season and a 2.09 ERA (16 ER/69.0 IP) in his last 11 starts. The left-hander is one of only three National League pitchers to have won 10 or more games in each of the past five seasons, joining teammate Chad Billingsley and Cole Hamels, and his 66 wins since the start of the 2007 season are tied for the second most on the circuit behind only Tim Lincecum (69).

• FIREMEN: Lilly will be followed to the mound this afternoon by the veteran lineup of RHP Matt Guerrier, RHP Mike MacDougal, RHP Todd Coffey and LHP John Grabow, who spent three seasons with the Cubs from 2009-11. Guerrier and Coffey have been two of the game’s best at inducing groundballs since 2005, with Guerrier ranking third among Major League relievers (732) and Coffey ranking fifth (683) in that span. Chad Qualls leads big league relievers with 891 ground balls induced in the past seven seasons with Shawn Camp (765, 2^nd) and Mariano Rivera (692, 4^th) rounding out the top five.

(Uribe grounds to left side to get run home for 2-0 Dodgers lead, via twitter @gbakermariners)

• HAPPY HAPPY: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy 24^th birthday to catcher Gorman “Griff” Erickson! Erickson, who is in his first big league camp as a non-roster invitee, was the starting catcher for the 2011 California League All-Stars and batted a combined .293 last season with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Chattanooga, setting career highs in home runs (13) and RBI (66) in 104 games. He was originally selected in the 15^th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft out of San Diego’s Westview High School.

• GOING TO BE A CLASSIC: The 3^rd annual Dodgertown Classic is just two days away and will take place on Tuesday, March 13 at Dodger Stadium with UC Irvine taking on Pepperdine at 2:00 p.m. and USC battling their crosstown rival UCLA at 6:30 p.m. There will be discounted concessions and free parking with an all-day ticket costing only $7 in advance and $12 on gameday.

(pic credit: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2012)