The Los Angeles Dodgers opened their Cactus League schedule on Monday afternoon with a 6-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. Starter Chad Billingsley and manager Don Mattingly were on the same page as far as their gameplan was concerned from the mound.
"I thought we attacked the strike zone," said Mattingly.
"Main focus the first time out there was throwing strikes. I told A.J. Ellis to stay on the plate, that I wanted to pound the zone today," said Billingsley, who threw 21 pitches in his two scoreless innings, allowing one hit.
Scott Van Slyke crushed a two-run home run for the Dodgers, the highlight of a five-run sixth inning for the Dodgers that featured four sons of major leaguers collect hits. Tony Gwynn Jr. had a single and a stolen base, Justin Sellers (son of Jeff Sellers) hit a double, Ivan DeJesus Jr. hit a triple, and Van Slyke (son of Andy Van Slyke) homered, all of Nestor Molina, who took the loss (0-1).
Notes
Jerry Sands will start at first base for the Dodgers on Wednesday, in place of James Loney, as the Dodgers host the San Francisco Giants at Camelback Ranch. Sands will start in right field Wednesday in place of Andre Ethier. Jerry Hairston Jr., another son of a major leaguer, will start at designated hitter on Tuesday and at shortstop on Wednesday, in place of Dee Gordon.
Ted Lilly starts on the mound for the Dodgers on Tuesday, against Barry Zito and the Giants.
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