Blake Powers Dodgers Past Texas

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Texas Rangers 6-3, taking the series two games to one. The Dodgers were in an early hole when a Rafael Furcal error allowed two runners to score in the first inning, giving Texas a 2-1 lead. However, Casey Blake hit a 3-run homer that put LA up for good. Chad Billingsley went 7+ innings, allowing only three runs (two earned). Blake also had a double and scored a run. Orlando Hudson and Brad Ausmus both doubled, with Ausmus getting an RBI and Hudson scoring a run. Juan Pierre scored twice, and James Loney drove in a run. Andruw Jones hit a solo-homer for the Rangers, and both Hank Blalock and Michael Young scored.

Dodgers Overcome Delay, Irony for Victory

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Texas Rangers 3-1, snapping a two-game losing streak. The game was scoreless through five innings before a power failure that caused a bank of lights to fail became too big of a distraction. The game consequently was delayed for an hour and 40 minutes. As soon as the contest resumed, Juan Pierre scored in the sixth to give the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead. However, former Dodger and local irritant Andruw Jones homered to tie the game. Matt Kemp responded though, hitting a two-run home run in the next frame to give LA the lead for good. The bullpen held down after Randy Wolf pitched five scoreless innings, who had to be lifted due to the delay. Rafael Furcal had an RBI and a double, and Orlando Hudson collected two hits. Casey Blake also doubled. The 4-6 hitters in the Texas lineup all failed to get a hit; both Michael Young and Ian Kinsler singled.

Jonathan Broxton pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save of the season after returning from Georgia for the birth of his son.

Silence Continues for Dodgers in Texas

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Texas Rangers 6-0, their third loss in four games of interleague play this season. The shutout loss puts the Dodgers' run total at 17 over the last 8 games. Hiroki Kuroda was solid through five innings before giving up three runs in the sixth. James Loney and Orlando Hudson had rare errors that resulted in three of the Rangers' runs. Juan Pierre singled twice and Rafael Furcal had a double. Casey Blake also collected two hits. Marlon Byrd had two hits, including a triple, a run scored, and an RBI for Texas, and Michael Young drove in a run. Hank Blalock had an RBI and scored a run.

Dodgers News: Hungry Like a Wolf, Estes is Upset, and Manny Might Be Ready

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Texas Rangers 11-4, their 12th win of the spring. Randy Wolf pitched six scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and striking out six. Wolf also had a two-run double and scored a run. Jason Repko had a three-run home run, and Matt Kemp hit a solo blast. Rafael Furcal had a double and two RBI's, and Juan Pierre scored two runs and stole two bases. Guillermo Mota pitched a perfect inning, but Hong-Chih Kuo and Corey Wade struggled; Kuo giving up one run in one inning and Wade surrendering two doubles and a home run.

Shawn Estes is very frustrated with his release. He believes that he still is capable of pitching in the majors, and was somewhat annoyed that Ned Colletti was not present at the meeting that decided his fate. Estes has also shown reluctance at the idea of pitching in Albuquerque for the Dodgers' Triple-A minor-league affiliate, in part because of a crowed rotation and also because of the altitude.

The Dodgers sent five players to minor-league camp after the game. Nick DeBarr, Stephen Randolph, Hector Luna, Valentino Pascucci, and Mitch Jones all were reassigned. Charlie Haegar was reassigned earlier in the day as well.

Manny Ramirez is close to returning to the lineup. He could return as early as tomorrow against the Angels in the DH position. Ramirez has sat out all week with a tight hamstring, taking batting practice but limiting fielding exercises. He is now participating in all practices. There has been no word as to what will become of Manny over the next week as the Dodgers play against NL teams without the DH rules.

Dodgers News: Manny's Debut, Wade Gets In, and Papelbon Won't Stop

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Texas Rangers 4-3, their eighth win of the spring. Manny Ramirez made his Spring Training debut, getting a hit, run, and two walks. Andre Ethier and Delwyn Young both had a hit and RBI, and Orlando Hudson had a hit and scored two runs. Brad Ausmus had a double. Chad Billingsley had a rough outing, giving up two homers in his first inning of work, resulting in three runs. James McDonald pitched two scoreless innings, but walked four batters. Jeff Weaver, Guillermo Mota, and Corey Wade combined to throw three scoreless innings, allowing only hit and striking out three between them.

Corey Wade pitched a perfect inning in his spring debut. Wade was suffering with a sore shoulder, keeping him sidelined for a few weeks from pitching in any games.

Valentino Pascucci returned to the Dodgers after playing for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic. He struck out in his only at-bat. Italy went 1-2 in the WBC, ultimately being eliminated by Venezuela.

Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon continued to explain his metaphor comparing Manny Ramirez to cancer. He likened Jason Bay, Manny's replacement, to chemotherapy. Ramirez was sent to LA from the Red Sox at the trade deadline in a three-way trade, and Bay was sent to Boston from Pittsburgh. Papelbon has drawn ire from the media for comparing Ramirez to cancer in an interview with Esquire.

Dodgers News: LA Makes Up for Schmidt, Kuo Gets a "B", and Korea Comes to Town

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Texas Rangers 14-7. Juan Castro beefed up his utility-man resume with a solo homer, and Hector Luna had a 2-run home run. Xavier Paul had 3 runs, 3 hits, and 2 RBI's, and Blake DeWitt scored a run, got two hits, and knocked in two. Both James Loney and Matt Kemp had one hit, one run, and one RBI. Jason Schmidt gave up three runs in two innings in his first start with LA since 2007, but got the win after the Dodgers scored 10 runs in the first three innings. Eric Milton threw three scoreless innings after Claudio Vargas surrendered four runs.

Schmidt, in his first start since 2007, allowed three runs, two walks, and two hits, including a home run. He struck out two.

Hong-Chih Kuo made his spring debut in a B-game against the Chicago White Sox, pitching a scoreless inning. Kuo could pitch in a real game as early as Thursday.

Andruw Jones launched a home run off Claudio Vargas, his first homer of the spring. Jones played with the Dodgers last season, signing the highest salary contract in franchise history. However, Jones was a flop, with 14 RBI's and 3 home runs. The Dodgers reworked his contract so they could release him, and Jones signed a minor-league deal with the Rangers. He hopes to make the club in April.

Team Korea defeated Team Japan in their pool finale to determine the two teams' seeding in the next round for the World Baseball Classic. Korea will play the Dodgers this Thursday in an exhibition.