Dodgers 14, Rockies 3, atSalt River Fields
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The sun came out and chased the rain away shortly before first pitch Tuesday afternoon, but the day remained gloomy for the Rockies, who pitched poorly, fielded poorly and didn’t show much offense in a 14-3 loss to the .
“Today was just a rough day all around for everybody,” manager Bud Black said.
For starters:Kyle Freeland, the 23-year-old right-hander from Thomas Jefferson High School, got roughed up in his first spring outing. His command was erratic and the Dodgers took advantage, posting four runs (three earned) on two hits over two innings. The big blow was a two-out, three-run homer by Henry Ramos in the second.
“Everything felt great coming out of my hand, but I think I was a little too amped up — the first game of spring training,” Freeland said, but admitting that his command was not sharp. “There are definitely some things I have to clean up. That’s one of them. On some of my offspeed pitches … I tried to do too much with them.”
Freeland also walked two batters and hurt himself with a wild throw to first base that set up the Dodgers’ first run.
“I think there was first-game excitement today for Kyle, no doubt about it,” Black said. “I’ve see the guy in previous workouts in the past couple of weeks where he had pretty good fastball command, but when you get between the lines it changes sometimes. And today it did, but he’ll bounce back.”
Hits: and both went 2-for-3 and drove in a run. … Outfielder Raimel Tapia, trying to find a place on the roster, continued to impress, pounding out two hits.
Misses:First baseman Ian Desmond, still raw at his new position, had a chance to pull off a double play in the third inning on a Chase Utley grounder. Desmond picked the ball clean but made a high throw to second and was charged with an error. In the fifth, he failed to make a scoop on an infield throw, extending the Dodgers’ five-run frame. … went 0-for-3 and struck out twice. … Right-handed reliever , fighting for a spot in the bullpen, did not help himself. He gave up two home runs, a walk and was charged with a throwing error in L.A.’s five-run fifth.
Up next: The Rockies (3-2) host the (1-3) at 1:10 p.m. Wednesday at Salt River Fields.
Padres probables:RHP Paul Clemens.
BOXSCORE:
Rockies probables:RHP Tyler Chatwood, LHP Harrison Musgrave, RHP James Farris, LHP Mike Dunn, RHP Jason Motte and RHP Chad Qualls.
