Dodgers spring training 2015: Kershaw survives comebacker, Dodgers don’t survive rally.

MESA, Ariz. — Clayton Kershaw survived a scary incident in the Dodgers’ 2-1 win over the Oakland A’s. His postgame comments are above. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said “it obviously scared all of us a little bit, but once we get out there you could tell he wasn’t totally” hurt. You can view/hear his comments here.

The starting pitching matchup between Kershaw and Oakland A’s ace Sonny Gray was predictably well pitched. J.P. Howell, Adam Liberatore and David Aardsma all pitched scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

And this is why spring training wins, losses and ties mean little. Blake Smith, an outfielder-turned-pitcher who finished last year at Double-A, was sent out for the ninth inning to protect a 2-1 lead. He did not. The A’s loaded the bases and won the game 3-2 on a two-out RBI single (after a nice double play turned by first baseman Cody Bellinger).

For the record, the Dodgers’ Cactus League record is 8-4-6. The box score is here.

Some more observations from the Dodgers’ first game of the day (the split-squad game in San Antonio begins at 5 p.m.):

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Watch: Clayton Kershaw hit by line drive, stays in game (video).

MESA, Ariz. — The Dodgers held their collective breath for a moment Friday when Clayton Kershaw was struck in the face by a line drive off the bat of Oakland’s Andy Parrino.

In the third inning of the Cactus League game at HoHoKam Stadium, Kershaw was a bit late raising up his glove to deflect the baseball. He appeared to be struck on his left cheek or jaw, then sat on the ground while his teammates gathered around the mound.

Dodgers head athletic trainer Stan Conte sprung out of the dugout and examined Kershaw, who eventually threw a warm-up pitch and was allowed to remain in the game.

With runners on first and third base, Kershaw retired Coco Crisp on a line drive on his next pitch. An RBI single by Craig Gentry gave the A’s their first run later in the inning.

Kershaw remained in the game to pitch the fourth inning. The 2014 MVP/Cy Young Award winner is making his fourth spring training start.

Dodgers spring training 2015: Lineup vs. Oakland A’s.

The #Dodgers’ newest minor league call-up has a good heater.

A photo posted by J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) on


The Dodgers will play two games today: One at 1 p.m. in Mesa, Arizona against the Oakland A’s and another at 5 p.m. in San Antonio, Texas against the Rangers.

Here is the lineup for the game against the A’s:
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Nick Punto, Billy Burns in the house for first A’s-Dodgers Cactus League meeting of 2014.

Nick Punto

Nick Punto’s contract with the A’s nearly doubled his $1.5 million salary from 2013. (Getty Images)


The first Cactus League meeting between the Dodgers and Oakland A’s contains a few interesting subplots (none of which have anything do with the 1988 World Series, but if you’re feeling nostalgic it’s there for you).

Nick Punto is starting at shortstop for the A’s. The 36-year-old utilityman batted .255/.328/.327 last year in 335 plate appearances (116 games) for the Dodgers.

Punto turned that into a one-year deal with an option for a second year that guarantees $3 million. He is the A’s ninth-highest paid player. The Dodgers’ ninth-highest paid players this year are Dan Haren and Brian Wilson ($10 million each).

Dee Gordon gets the start at second base and leads off for the Dodgers. Billy Burns is leading off for the A’s. Gordon and Burns rank 1-2 among all spring training players in stolen bases. Gordon is 8-for-8 and Burns, who finished last season with the Washington Nationals’ Double-A affiliate, is 7-for-9.

Gordon is batting .208/.296/.375 in 12 spring games.

Zack Greinke threw a bullpen session this morning with Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis two days after a two-inning simulated game.

Here are both lineups for the game at Camelback Ranch:
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A’s 3, Dodgers 3. Update.

The Dodgers and A’s were tied at 3 apiece after the top of the ninth inning at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Wednesday, when everyone agreed to go home. [box score]

“Four veteran umpires out there,” manager Don Mattingly quipped after the Dodgers “moved” (to borrow a common hockey phrase) to 1-1-1.

Most of the Dodgers’ starting position players were given the day off, but it was the first live-game action for starting pitcher Aaron Harang and relievers Kenley Jansen, Scott Elbert and Javy Guerra, all of whom are expected to play important roles out of the bullpen this season.

Harang had an awful four-batter stretch in the first inning, allowing two doubles, two singles and two earned runs –all with two outs. Otherwise he was perfect, but left with the Dodgers trailing 2-0.

“That’s why we throw 5 or 6 starts throughout the spring,” said Harang. The left-hander had been dealing with foot soreness earlier in the spring but he said that was not an issue today.

Jansen, Elbert and Guerra all threw scoreless innings, though it was a bit of a struggle for Elbert and Guerra.

Elbert allowed a walk and a single with two outs in his lone inning, the sixth, then struck out the A’s Cedric Hunter with runners on first and third. Guerra allowed a pair of walks in the seventh but was bailed out by a double play when he struck out Josh Reddick, and Eric Sogard was caught stealing third base, to end the inning.

Cory Sullivan, getting his first Cactus League start in left field, went 3-for-4. The rest of the Dodgers lineup went 1 for 25.

A few more notes:
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