Dodgers 9, Angels 4
DODGERS ON THE MOUND: Josiah Gray tossed a scoreless first inning in his Cactus League debut, limiting the Angels to one hit. Baseball America recently listed the 22-year-old right-hander as the Dodgers’ sixth-ranked prospect after he was named the organization’s minor league pitcher of the year in 2019. … Kenley Jansen struck out the side in the second inning on 11 pitches for his second scoreless outing to begin his spring. … Joe Kelly surrendered a hit and struck out two in a scoreless inning in his first appearance.
ANGELS ON THE MOUND: Right-hander Griffin Canning cruised through his two-inning stint after beginning it with a 3-0 count to Mookie Betts. He retired Betts, Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger in order in the first inning. Canning snagged a liner over his head in the second inning to retire AJ Pollock. Only a walk to Will Smith marred Canning’s line. … Closer Hansel Robles struggled to contain the Dodgers in his inning of work. He gave up three hits, including Bellinger’s RBI single to right that gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the third. … Mike Mayers, Jacob Barnes and Hoby Milner blanked the Dodgers in their respective innings. Kyle Keller gave up a two-run triple in the sixth. All are competing for spots in the Angels bullpen.
DODGERS AT THE PLATE: The Dodgers scored six runs in the eighth inning to overcome a one-run deficit. A balk scored the first run, followed by Luke Raley’s two-run triple and Cody Thomas’ three-run home run. It was the second home run of the spring for Thomas, an outfielder who went to the University of Oklahoma on a football scholarship. … Betts went 0 for 3 in his third start of the spring. …Utility man Zach McKinstry, starting at shortstop, went two for three with a triple and two runs batted in.
ANGELS AT THE PLATE: Outfielder Michael Hermosillo, who missed all of last spring while rehabbing a core injury, drove in the Angels’ first run on a double that split Bellinger and Betts in right-center field. … Jose Briceño had the Angels first hit in the third inning. He made it to third base on consecutive groundouts before being stranded there by Jo Adell. … Prospect Livan Soto, 19, hit a three-run homer to right-center field in the eighth off Markus Solbach to give the Angels a 4-3 lead.
DODGERS EXTRA BASES: Pitching prospect Dustin May, still dealing with soreness in his side since the beginning of spring training, recently played catch at 120 feet but has taken a step back, according to manager Dave Roberts. “Reality is he’s a little behind,” Roberts said. … Roberts said right-hander Jimmy Nelson, a career starter before injuries limited him to 10 games in the last two seasons, is expected to begin the season as a reliever. … Clayton Kershaw is slated to throw two innings in his spring debut Friday. … Walker Buehler will start the Dodgers’ split-squad game at Salt River Fields on Saturday against the Colorado Rockies and Ross Stripling will start at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Both are slated to log two innings.
ANGELS EXTRA BASES: Angels starting pitchers have not given up a run in eight innings. … Infield defense was a bright spot. Tommy La Stella handled a hard-hit grounder from Gavin Lux to force an out at second base in the second and made a waist-high basket catch near the right field line to end the third. … Shortstop Luis Rengifo dazzled playing in the shift. Stationed in shallow right field, he was in perfect position to scoop a Bellinger liner after it deflected off first baseman Jose Rojas’ glove. He tossed it to Canning for an out. Rengifo also started a double play on a tough hop just to the left of second base in the third inning.
UP NEXT: Tony Gonsolin is scheduled to pitch two innings for the Dodgers in his second start of the spring Thursday against the Cleveland Indians at Goodyear Ballpark. TV: SportsNet LA, noon PST. Matt Andriese will start for the Angels on Thursday against the San Diego Padres at Tempe Diablo Stadium. TV: FS West, noon PST.