Dodgers lose to Giants as Craig Kimbrel gets rocked in debut
THE GAME: In his first spring outing for the Dodgers, Craig Kimbrel gave up hits to the first four batters he faced, including back-to-back home runs in a 10-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Saturday afternoon at Camelback Ranch in Glendale.
PITCHING REPORT: Acquired in a trade with the Chicago White Sox on Friday, Kimbrel gave up a double, back-to-back home runs and a single before striking out the next batter. He was removed after throwing 19 pitches. … Starter Clayton Kershaw struck out four of the first five batters he faced, throwing 20 strikes in 24 pitches to get through the first two innings. A walk led to a run in the third when Austin Slater had an RBI double. Kershaw pitched into the fifth inning, allowing that one run on three hits while striking out six. He threw 57 pitches. … Left-hander Alex Vesia retired just one of the three batters he faced in the sixth inning, giving up a walk and a bunt single. Vesia has allowed seven hits and walked three in 3 2/3 innings this spring. … Evan Phillips gave up a two-out, two-run single to Luke Williams after another run scored on an error. … Garrett Cleavinger gave up a three-run homer to Giants catcher Joey Bart. … Phil Bickford pitched in his first game of the spring and struck out two of the three batters he faced.
HITTING REPORT: With most of the regulars already back in Southern California, the Dodgers managed just two hits. … Andy Pages had both of them – an RBI single in the second and a double in the fifth. … Gavin Lux drove in the Dodgers’ second run with a sacrifice fly.
DEFENSE REPORT: Eddy Alvarez made a wild throw to first base, trying to turn an inning-ending double play at second base in the sixth. A run scored on the error.
UP NEXT: Dodgers (RHP Walker Buehler) vs. Angels (RHP Noah Syndergaard) at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, 6:05 p.m. Sunday, SportsNet LA, AM 570