The Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers both opened their spring training schedules today with a battle at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The Angels captured the opener against the Dodgers, 4-1, behind strong pitching and a two-run home run from first base prospect Mark Trumbo. The Angels held the Dodgers to just three hits in the game.
Trevor Bell started for the Angels and pitched the first two innings. He allowed just one run, in the second inning, when Matt Kemp singled, stole second base, advanced to third on a ground ball, then scored on a fly ball to shallow center field by Russ Mitchell. The run turned out to be the only run of the game for the Dodgers. Garret Richards pitched two scoreless innings, directly following Bell, walking one and striking out two.
Hiroki Kuroda pitched two scoreless innings for the Dodgers in his spring debut, and was efficient, only throwing 23 pitches in the process. Kuroda was followed on the mound by 2009 Dodgers minor league pitcher of the year Rubby De La Rosa, who pitched two innings, allowing two runs on the home run by Trumbo. The two teams will meet again tomorrow at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. The Dodgers had two split squad games today, and lost their other game, 8-3 against the Giants in Scottsdale.
For more information on today's game, be sure to read True Blue LA and Halos Heaven.