|
"I thought he did well. He mixed up his pitches and gave up some tough hits, but he was able to work his way out of it most of the time," Barajas said. "That's what you like about him. He competes and he never gives in. He believes in himself and that makes it easier for me to call the game, because I know I can put down whatever signs and he's comfortable throwing it. The only thing we didn't really have working for us tonight was the changeup. He never seemed to get a feel for it."
The Dodgers opened the sixth with singles by Kemp and Rivera, whose slow bouncer to the right of the mound deflected off Bedard's glove as he tried to backhand it. Ethier -- who hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning of Tuesday's home opener -- lined a 3-1 pitch the other way to left field, scoring Kemp and giving the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.
"I kind of gave away an at-bat my second time up when I was in an RBI situation and didn't make the most of it," Ethier said. "So I just tried to make it simple my next time up. Fortunately, I worked myself into a good hitter's count, used my hands and got a good pitch over the middle of the plate."
James Loney pinch hit for Billingsley later in the sixth with the bases loaded against Tony Watson and went 0 for 2, making him hitless in his first 16 at-bats -- the longest season-opening drought of his seven-year career. In 2008, he hit safely in his first 15 games.
NOTES: Nancy Bea Hefley, who succeeded Helen Dell as Dodger Stadium's organist in 1988, will get her first opportunity to throw out a ceremonial first pitch before Saturday night's game against San Diego. ... Clayton Kershaw was presented with his Cy Young Award on the field before the game by former Dodger Fernando Valenzuela, who won it in 1981 as a rookie. ... The security people on the field were wearing batting helmets during batting practice -- a new directive instituted by Major League Baseball for all ballparks.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
News | Sports | Business | Rural Review | Teaching & Learning | Home and Family | Tourism | Obituaries
Community |
Perspectives
|
Law & Courts |
Leisure Time
|
Spiritual Life |
Health & Fitness |
Teen Scene
Calendar
|
Letters to the Editor