Ted Lilly (1-1) threw three shutout innings and a four-run second inning lifted the Dodgers to their second shutout victory in three days before an announced crowd of 10,380 at Camelback Ranch. [box score]
Lilly allowed one hit, a single, and walked one in his second appearance of the spring.
“I treated this game more like a regular-season game. The only pitch I didn’t throw much or well is my slider,” Lilly said, adding that the slider was “ineffective” against his former team.
The Dodgers needed only seven hits. Two came off the bat of Trent Oeltjen, including a hustle double on a routine grounder up the middle that made Cubs center fielder Marlon Byrd look lazy. Matt Guerrier, Todd Coffey, Mike MacDougal, John Grabow, Alberto Castillo and Will Savage all threw scoreless innings out of the bullpen. None has allowed a run so far this spring.
Guerrier made it interesting by loading the bases in the fourth inning on three walks, but he got out of his own jam. After the game, manager Don Mattingly had nothing but praise for Guerrier: “Last year [the movement on his pitches] looked more side to side. This year it’s late,” Mattingly said.
As for the team’s 4-1-2 Cactus League record?
“Last year I’m saying that they don’t really matter and we’re losing,” the manager said, “and it’s the same this year.”
A few more notes:
Only six pitchers on the major league camp roster are scheduled to throw tomorrow against the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium: Starter Aaron Harang and relievers Angel Guzman, Scott Rice, Ryan Tucker, Wilfredo Ledezma and Chris Withrow. Odds are the team will tap into the minor-league camp for some extra arms, if needed.
Every position player was scheduled to make the trip except Jerry Sands, Mark Ellis, Juan Uribe and James Loney.
Andre Ethier, scratched Saturday with mid-back stiffness, had a pain-free batting practice session in the morning and is set to play tomorrow, Mattingly said.