Dodgers

The Kyle Chapman Dodgers opened their 2004 spring campaign with a 10-2 4-inning victory over the Marlins on Tuesday night at Kyle Chapman field in beautiful Bayland Park. In the top of the first inning, the Dodger struck for 6 big runs on an Andrew Burns double down the right field line, an Alvin Johnson RBI single up the middle, a Jeremy Schaffer RBI double to right field, an Andrew Jones HBP, a long single to the base of the left field fence by Jared Rothenberg, a wild pitch, an error by the shortstop, and an Andre Oliver RBI single to right field. Andrew Jones took the mound with a nice cushion in the bottom of the first. He struck out the Marlins' leadoff batter, who reached base on a wild pitch. Jones struck out the second Marlins' batter, who attempted to reach first base on a dropped third strike. Catcher, Jeremy Schaffer gunned the ball to Jared Rothenberg at first to get the Marlins' batter. Then, the Marlins runner at second attempted to reach third base. First baseman Jared Rothenberg launched a rifle shot to Alvin Johnson at third. Johnson slapped the tag on the Marlins' runner to complete the strikeout double play. Jones ended the first by striking out the third Marlins' batter. In the top of the second, the Dodgers extended their lead to 10-0. Alvin Johnson reached first on a leadoff walk. Jeremy Schaffer was hit by a pitch. Andrew Jones walked to load the bases. Jared Rothenberg walked on a 3-2 pitch to make the score 7-0. Brian Baumgarten blasted a hard line drive sacrifice fly to center field to drive in the 8th Dodgers run. The ninth Dodgers run scored on a wild pitch. The Dodgers scored their 10th and final run when Matt Kelly singled to left, driving in Jared Rothenberg from third. The Marlins scored both of their runs for the night in the bottom of the second on a leadoff walk and a 2 RBI home run blast over the 270 sign in right field by Ryan Keenan. Jones finished the second inning by striking out 3 Marlins' batters and getting the final Marlins' batter on a ground ball forceout from short to third. In the top of the third, the Dodgers managed a single to left field by Jeremy Schaffer, and a HBP to Jared Rothenberg, but failed to score. Sean Flaharty came on to pitch for the Dodgers in the bottom of the 3rd. He was greeted by a leadoff single up the middle and a force at second from short to second. Ryan Keenan got a hit to right field. Brian Baumgarten came up throwing, firing a laser beam to Alvin Johnson at third to nail the Marlins' lead runner. Flaharty got the third out of the inning on a fly to right field to end the inning. After the Dodgers went down 1-2-3 in the top of the 4th, Flaharty fielded a leadoff grounder to the left side and fired the ball to James Thoreen at first for the first out of the innning. Flaharty nailed down the Dodgers victory with a strikeout, a single to left field, and a ground ball force to the shortstop who beat the runner to second to end the game. The Dodgers next game will be on Thursday night at 8:00 p.m., against the Astros, who surprised the Cardinals with a 6-5 win in the first game of the evening. Players should arrive at the field by 7pm for batting practice. Congratulations to the Dodgers players and coaches on a nice effort to begin the spring campaign with a W. See you at the ballpark!!!! By Scott Rothenberg