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Kershaw throws scoreless spring debut, Mariners top Dodgers 2-0
Posted
By Mark Carlisle
Independent Newsmedia
PEORIA — Clayton Kershaw started the spring without a hitch Sunday, retiring three batters in 11 pitches in the only inning he threw.
The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t get any help from their offense though, falling to the Seattle Mariners 2-0 at the Peoria Sports Complex.
“Good to get back out there,” Kershaw said after his first spring training start. “Felt better doing this one than I did doing bullpens and stuff like that. I think just, you know, with the crowd, facing a different team, it helps a little bit.”
After his 1-2-3 first inning, the Dodgers’ lefty ace threw another simulated inning in the bullpen, which was about 20 pitches.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to first to retire Seattle Mariners left fielder Ben Gamel for the first out of the game Sunday at the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria. [Mark Carlisle/Independent Newsmedia][/caption]Kershaw got Seattle leadoff man Ben Gamel to hit a dribbler back to the mound, which he fielded and sent on to first baseman Max Muncy for the first out. Jean Segura recorded the second out, hitting a fly out to left fielder Matt Kemp. For the final out, Kershaw got eight-time All-Star Robinson Cano to ground to short.
Even though Kershaw saw three hitters who will likely start for Seattle in the regular season, he said at this point in the spring, you never know if a player if putting forth his best effort or working on a specific part of his game.
“It’s tough to tell what guys are working on this early in spring,” Kershaw said. “You know, guys might be trying something out. But as you go out towards the end of spring training, it definitely helps to face guys you’re going to face maybe during the season or guys who are predominant hitters in other lineups. And I think and that point, people are not really working on stuff. (They’re) trying to get hits, trying to get outs, trying to get results.”
For Kershaw’s bullpen session, bullpen catcher Steve Cilladi posed as a batter, but without a bat. Non-roster invitee catcher Shawn Zarraga caught the session.
Kershaw said he simulated facing three batters during the session, but it’s never quite the same.
“No matter how much you simulate the intensity throwing in a bullpen… it’s going to be different than throwing in a game,” he said.
The extra inning in the bullpen has been a regular practice for LA pitchers for as long as Kershaw’s been with the team, in order to build up starters’ stamina.
“That’s kind of Honey’s (pitching coach Rick Honeycutt) thing to add on one more in the bullpen,” Kershaw said. “Seems like a good segue into your next start.”
The three-time Cy Young winner had another run-in with injury in 2017, missing all of August because of a lower back strain, but still threw 175 innings in the regular season and 33 more in the postseason. Kershaw missed more than three months of the 2016 with another back injury.
Because of the extra postseason innings, the Dodgers have talked about limiting Kershaw’s innings in spring. However, manager Dave Roberts said there’s a balance between saving his arm and making sure he’ll be ready for the season. Roberts announced on the first day of camp at Camelback Ranch, Feb. 13, that Kershaw will start Opening Day.
Starting yet another spring, Kershaw, who has finished in the top five of Cy Young voting for seven straight seasons, said it’s not as simple as picking up where he left off.
“Just because you had some success last year, just because something worked last year, doesn’t mean it necessarily carries over,” he said. “I wish that were the case, but you have to just continue to try to work on it. Not necessarily adding stuff new every year, but just trying to figure out what worked last year and then try to carry that over as best you can and that takes a little work, at least for me.”
The 29-year-old south paw said he likes hanging out with his teammates during spring training and that the preparation is needed, but that the Peoria Sports Complex, with an attendance of 7,504 Sunday, doesn’t quite compare to the big league stage.
“It’s a little bit different,” he said. “It’s fun to get to pitch at Dodger Stadium. So, it’s a little bit different here, no doubt.”
Winners and losers
Mariners reliever and former Dodger Juan Nicasio earned the win, pitching a scoreless third inning. Scott Alexander, whom the Dodgers acquired via trade with the Royals this offseason, got the loss in his first spring appearance. Gamel hit a one-out triple in the bottom of the third and a wild pitch from Alexander brought him home.
Gamel drove in Seattle’s other run in the fifth, scoring pinch runner John Andreoli on a groundout.
Double doubles
In a Dodger lineup that had seven players who fans can expect to see on the Opening Day roster, it was an unknown name that made the only noise on an otherwise silent day for the LA offense.
First baseman Max Muncy hit two doubles for the Dodgers’ only hits. Muncy’s first hopped over the wall in left-center for a ground-rule double in the third, and he hit his second into the other gap two innings later.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to first to retire Seattle Mariners left fielder Ben Gamel for the first out of the game Sunday at the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria. [Mark Carlisle/Independent Newsmedia][/caption]Kershaw got Seattle leadoff man Ben Gamel to hit a dribbler back to the mound, which he fielded and sent on to first baseman Max Muncy for the first out. Jean Segura recorded the second out, hitting a fly out to left fielder Matt Kemp. For the final out, Kershaw got eight-time All-Star Robinson Cano to ground to short.
Even though Kershaw saw three hitters who will likely start for Seattle in the regular season, he said at this point in the spring, you never know if a player if putting forth his best effort or working on a specific part of his game.
“It’s tough to tell what guys are working on this early in spring,” Kershaw said. “You know, guys might be trying something out. But as you go out towards the end of spring training, it definitely helps to face guys you’re going to face maybe during the season or guys who are predominant hitters in other lineups. And I think and that point, people are not really working on stuff. (They’re) trying to get hits, trying to get outs, trying to get results.”
For Kershaw’s bullpen session, bullpen catcher Steve Cilladi posed as a batter, but without a bat. Non-roster invitee catcher Shawn Zarraga caught the session.
Kershaw said he simulated facing three batters during the session, but it’s never quite the same.
“No matter how much you simulate the intensity throwing in a bullpen… it’s going to be different than throwing in a game,” he said.
The extra inning in the bullpen has been a regular practice for LA pitchers for as long as Kershaw’s been with the team, in order to build up starters’ stamina.
“That’s kind of Honey’s (pitching coach Rick Honeycutt) thing to add on one more in the bullpen,” Kershaw said. “Seems like a good segue into your next start.”
The three-time Cy Young winner had another run-in with injury in 2017, missing all of August because of a lower back strain, but still threw 175 innings in the regular season and 33 more in the postseason. Kershaw missed more than three months of the 2016 with another back injury.
Because of the extra postseason innings, the Dodgers have talked about limiting Kershaw’s innings in spring. However, manager Dave Roberts said there’s a balance between saving his arm and making sure he’ll be ready for the season. Roberts announced on the first day of camp at Camelback Ranch, Feb. 13, that Kershaw will start Opening Day.
Starting yet another spring, Kershaw, who has finished in the top five of Cy Young voting for seven straight seasons, said it’s not as simple as picking up where he left off.
“Just because you had some success last year, just because something worked last year, doesn’t mean it necessarily carries over,” he said. “I wish that were the case, but you have to just continue to try to work on it. Not necessarily adding stuff new every year, but just trying to figure out what worked last year and then try to carry that over as best you can and that takes a little work, at least for me.”
The 29-year-old south paw said he likes hanging out with his teammates during spring training and that the preparation is needed, but that the Peoria Sports Complex, with an attendance of 7,504 Sunday, doesn’t quite compare to the big league stage.
“It’s a little bit different,” he said. “It’s fun to get to pitch at Dodger Stadium. So, it’s a little bit different here, no doubt.”
