This is the moment he’s been waiting for.  He’ll be so geeked that he’ll give up seven runs in the first inning or he’ll pitch a shutout.  What happens should tell us volumes about his makeup and character.  Kuroda gets his first regular season Dodger start, and what better team to beat than the Friars!  Kuroda has a 0.00 ERA this year.  Pretty Good, huh?

Did you know…

Over the last 50 years, the Dodgers have won more games (4,252), more pennants (nine), and more World Series (five) than any other club in the National League. Since the start of the modern era in baseball, the Dodgers of Brooklyn and Los Angeles, combined, have a cumulative attendance of more than 176 million, the highest total in the history of baseball or any other sport.

TONIGHT’S LINEUP:

1. Furcal, SS
2. Martin, C
3. Loney, 1B
4. Kent, 2B
5. Ethier, LF
6. Jones, CF
7. Kemp, RF
8. DeWitt, 3B
9. Kuroda, P

I’ll say one thing - Joe Torre isn’t afraid to change things up.

The Las Vegas 51’s lost their opener 6-3. 

Highlights & Lowlight:

• Jason Repko was 2-5 and scored all 3 runs as well as hitting a HR
• Greg Miller pitched one inning of relief, allowing and single, striking out 2 and walking ZERO!  ZILCH!
• Miguel Pinango pitched 6 strong innngs of 4 hit vaseball while striking out 5
• Falkenborg gave up 4 runs in 1/3 of an inning
• BOXSCORE

The Jacksonville Suns won their opener 6-3. 

Highlights:

• DeJesus was 1-3  and hit in the #2 spot
• Lucas May was 2-2 in the cleanup spot
• James McDonald was roughed up for 6 hits and 2 ER in 3 innings, but Corey Wade pitched 3 scoreless abd hittless innings
• Yency Brazoban struck out the side in the 9th for his first save
• BOXSCORE

The Inland Empire 66′ers lost 5-3.  

Highlights & Lowlights:

• Josh Bell was 3-4 after losing 3o pounds over the winter.  I can no longer call him a “doughboy.”  He looked sleak and strong in the Spring - THIS IS A GUY TO WATCH!
• BOXSCORE

The Great Lakes Loons won 5-2 in their first game under new manager John Bustabad. 

Highlights:

• Preston Mattingly went 2-4 while hitting 3rd.
• Andrew Lambo was 1-4 in the cleanup position.
• BOXSCORE

This is going to be a fun season as we watch the next wave of Dodger minor leagers progress.  We’ve got some more really good ones, including:

• Lambo
• Baez
• Bell
• Mattingly

Watch for more updates on their progress and bios.