Hitters get off to a good start
VERO BEACH, FLA. — Pitchers are normally ahead of hitters at this point in the spring, but 11 runs were scored on 19 hits in the intrasquad game. Fernando Tatis and Larry Bigbie, both of whom are trying to resurrect their careers after a series of injuries, homered.
Derek Lowe, facing essentially the Dodgers triple-A lineup, gave up six hits in 1 2/3 innings.
“He’s just getting his work in,” Manager Grady Little said. “But it was just like during the season. He gets guys to hit ground balls, and if they hit them where no one is standing, it can cause problems.”
Scott Elbert and Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers’ top pitching prospects yet to pitch in the major leagues, were on display. Elbert faced four batters in the intrasquad game, walking two and getting two outs, and Kershaw pitched to hitters on a far field in minor league camp.
“I tended to overthrow,” Elbert said. “I was rushing my delivery. I was a little anxious. It was a good lesson.”
Elbert is scheduled to pitch Sunday in a Grapefruit League game.
*
It’s about as rare as a no-hitter, so this was something like a base hit in the ninth breaking one up.
The Dodgers came one day from getting through February without an injury. Then utility player Marlon Anderson took a batting practice swing before a 4 1/2 -inning intrasquad game and felt pain in his right elbow. He was held out of the game and won’t play until the pain subsides.
Anderson, a nine-year veteran who helped the Dodgers to the playoffs with a sensational September, is a lock to make the roster. Yet he was trying to play through the pain without letting anyone know the way a rookie might.
“We had to remind Marlon that [tomorrow] is March 1 and not May 1,” Little said. “We won’t push him too much.”
Anderson had surgery in October on the elbow to clean out bone chips and he was presumed healthy.
*
There was a collective breath of relief when Luis Gonzalez said he was fine after getting hit in the left wrist by a pitch from Mike Megrew.
It was eerily reminiscent of two years ago when a different Dodgers left fielder -- Jayson Werth -- was hit in the wrist, broke a bone and was never completely healthy again. The Dodgers let Werth go last winter and he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies.
*
Randy Wolf will start against the Atlanta Braves today in Orlando. Chad Billingsley, Travis Smith, Chin-Hui Tsao, Tim Hamulack and John Meloan also will pitch.
The starting lineup: shortstop Rafael Furcal, center fielder Juan Pierre, left fielder Matt Kemp, first baseman Olmedo Saenz, third baseman Wilson Betemit, catcher Russell Martin, right fielder Andre Ethier and second baseman Ramon Martinez.
Nomar Garciaparra, Jeff Kent and Gonzalez won’t make the trip.
More to Read
Are you a true-blue fan?
Get our Dodgers Dugout newsletter for insights, news and much more.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.