The Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday afternoon in their final Cactus League game of the year. The Dodgers were bound for Los Angeles following the game as they begin an exhibition Freeway Series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Thursday.
Wednesday was a battle of 2014 Cy Young award winners, with Clayton Kershaw making his final spring start before Opening Day on Monday against the San Diego Padres. He was opposed by Indians ace Corey Kluber, was made his sixth and final start of Spring Training.
Kershaw gave up a two-out single to Carlos Santana in the top of the first, but followed it by striking out Mike Napoli to end the inning. Kluber also threw a scoreless first inning, only giving up an infield single to Trayce Thompson, who was later caught stealing on a strike ’em out, throw ’em out.
Other than walking former Dodgers third baseman Juan Uribe, Kershaw threw a clean second frame, striking out two batters in the process. Then in the bottom of the second, three consecutive two-out base hits by A.J. Ellis, Rob Segedin and Charlie Culberson gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.
The small rally came on an end on Culberson’s RBI single as Segedin was thrown out attempting to go first to third base. The third inning was once again a scoreless one for Kershaw in what was his final trip the mound this spring.
He issued one walk and a gave up an infield single, but picked off Jason Kipnis at first and got Santana to pop up to end the inning. Kershaw finished with four strikeouts over three scoreless innings.
CONTINUE READING: Trayce Thompson hits solo home run, Dodgers’ rally in ninth comes up short
Carlos Frias took over for Kershaw in the top of the fourth, and walked Napoli to begin the inning. Then with one out, Uribe hit an RBI double down the third baseline to tie the game at 1-1.
Roberto Perez followed with an RBI double of his own, giving the Indians a 2-1 lead. Frias issued consecutive walks to load the bases, but got out of the jam without any further damage. Kluber retired Scott Van Slyke, Joc Pederson and Elian Herrera in order in the bottom of the fourth.
After retiring the first two batters faced in the fifth, Frias gave up a double to Marlon Byrd. The right-hander was then letdown by Pederson, who dropped an underhanded attempt at a fly ball, allowing Byrd to score.
Segedin led off the bottom half of the fifth with a gift double as Byrd slipped on the warning track in right field. Kluber got Culberson to ground out, then gave way to Jeff Manship. The Indians reliever got back-to-back strikeouts of Austin Barnes and Matt Jones.
Frias’ third inning of work was smoother than his first two, as he set the Indians down in order in the sixth. A Francisco Lindor walk and Santana base hit put runners on first and third with none out in the seventh.
Frias traded a 6-4-3 double play for a run, but couldn’t get out of the inning as he issued a two-out walk. Lisalverto Bonilla entered and walked Todd Hankins before striking out Collin Cowgill to end the inning.
Devan Ahart led off the bottom of the seventh with a double, but was caught between third base and home plate with one out on a fielder’s choice. Culberson extended the inning by drawing a two-out walk, but Barnes flied out to right field.
Thompson hit a solo home run in the eighth inning to cut the Indians’ lead in half. With the tying runners on base and one out in the bottom of the ninth, Culberson pulled an RBI single into left field. That was as close as they got however, losing to the Indians, 4-3.