After opening their 2016 Cactus League schedule with a win on Thursday against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch, the Los Angeles Dodgers looked to hand the Texas Rangers their first loss in three games.
Joc Pederson collected the Dodgers’ first hit of the game, lining the first pitch he saw from Chi Chi Gonzalez for a one-out single to center field. Pederson was forced out at second base on a Chase Utley grounder, which the veteran prevented from being a double play by hustling out of the box.
Nothing came of it however, as Scott Van Slyke flied out to center field. Scott Kazmir got off to a rough start in his Dodgers debut, beginning with a Delino DeShields leadoff double.
Shin-Soo Choo followed with a base hit that put runners on the corners with no outs. Kazmir struck out Prince Fielder swinging, then surrendered an RBI single to Adrian Beltre’s that gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead.
Kazmir ended the inning by getting Ian Desmond to ground into a 4-6-3 double play. Gonzalez sailed through the second inning by retiring Kiké Hernandez, A.J. Ellis and Trayce Thompson in order.
Justin Ruggiano struck out to open the bottom of the second, but Kazmir again found himself in trouble soon after. Rougned Odor, Elvis Andrus and Michael McKenry combined for a trio of singles, with McKenry’s extending the Rangers’ lead to 2-0.
Kazmir worked his way out of trouble by inducing DeShields into an inning-ending double play. The southpaw’s day came to an end after 37 pitches over two innings. He allowed two runs on six hits, faced 10 batters, had two strikeouts and induced two double plays.
CONTINUE READING: Dodgers Rally In Ninth To Force Tie
