Dodgers 6, White Sox 5

The Dodgers just finished off the Sox down here in Glendale. It wasn’t the prettiest game I’ve ever seen (six errors between the two teams), but it had its moments.

THE GOOD

Gavin Floyd – Threw two hitless innings, facing the minimum of six batters. He pegged a guy but induced a double-play to erase the baserunner. Floyd failed to record any strikeouts, but just getting guys out is good enough for now. It is February, afterall.

Dallas McPherson – Came in to play third base for the second half of the game. He immediately turned a nice 5-4-3 double play and had another diving stop/throw to first later in the game. He also singled and scored a run in the seventh. The guy has big league experience…there isn’t really a spot for him on the team, but that’s what spring training is for, right?

Jordan Danks – Replaced Alex Rios in center field and had an RBI double in the sixth. The younger brother of pitcher John Danks failed to impress last year. Maybe 2011 is his year.

Alexei Ramirez’s defense – Ranging to his right in the fourth inning, Alexei planted and gunned down Gabe Kapler, saving a third run from scoring. Alexei also had a hit and scored a run. However…

THE BAD

Alexei Ramirez’s baserunning – His hit and his run didn’t come in the same inning. He reached on an error in the third (the Dodgers committed three that inning) and came around to score. He singled in the fifth and was caught too far off first when Brent Morel lined out to second base, turning one out into two outs.

Adam Dunn – Finished 0 for 2 with two strikeouts in three plate appearances. He walked in the sixth inning. Is Dunn going to wait until April to hit a ball? The suspense is already killing me! What made his day even worse was when Donny Lucy, a backup catcher, took over his DH spot in the seventh and singled in two runs.

Tony Pena – He came into the game with a 1-0 lead and left trailing 2-1. A throwing error by Gordon Beckham didn’t help him, but a triple by Trayvon Robinson sealed the deal – both runs were earned. Unfortunately, Pena wasn’t the worst we saw...

THE UGLY

Miguel Socolovich – Started the fifth inning by striking out Russell Mitchell looking. Good, right? Then it went single, walk, double, fielder’s choice, walk, single, walk, aaaaaaaaand here comes Ozzie to send him to the showers. His line – 2/3 of an inning pitched, three hits, four runs (all earned), three walks and a strikeout. Jitters for the young fella? Yes, but now he’s got a big mental hurdle to get over in order to earn a roster spot for April 1.

Josh Phegley – With a runner on first in the fifth (Socolovich’s inning), Socolovich threw ball four to Justin Sellers. Pinch runner Ivan De Jesus, Jr. was running because it was a full count. Phegley tried to gun down De Jesus at second, but the throw was off-line by about 10 feet. When both battery mates’ heads are in the dumps, four-run innings are what happens. Phegley also grounded out to the pitcher and popped out to third. With Pierzynski and Castro locked in at catcher and Tyler Flowers in waiting, Phegley probably wants to make an impact just to get his name known. This wasn’t the right way to do it.

Apparently my idea that the loss doesn’t count in the standings because it was an exhibition game was INCORRECT, but your record before April 1 doesn’t really matter anyway.

Check back tomorrow as the White Sox host the Brewers!