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Sports

Kemp, Barajas lead Dodgers over Angels 5-0

Associated Press
Published | Updated

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Don Mattingly is looking for progress more than victories early in spring training.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' new manager was happy to get both Sunday.

Mattingly got his first Cactus league victory with a 5-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels.

"Everything looks pretty good right now," said Mattingly, 1-1 in Cactus League play after working a 4-1 split-squad loss Saturday to the Angels. "We just want to stay on this path."

The Dodgers kept the Angels from scoring a single run with some effective pitching and timely defense. It began with right-hander John Ely, who started and picked up the victory with two innings of work. He gave up one hit and struck out three.

The Dodgers are looking for consistency from Ely, who was impressive early last season. From May 6 to June 1 in 2010, Ely was impressive in six starts. However, he struggled after that to a 4-10 record with a 5.49 ERA.

"He kept us in games early last season," Mattingly said before Ely threw his first pitch. "But it seems like his command wasn't nearly as good as it was early on. He has to show us he can be as consistent as he was early."

Through two innings, at least, Mattingly saw the Ely he hopes to see throughout this season.

"He looked good," Mattingly said. "He attacked, tossed strikes. He looked like he did early last year."

Six pitchers picked up where Ely left off, allowing the Angels only three more hits and protecting an early lead.

The Dodgers' bats went to work in the first inning. Center fielder Matt Kemp got things started in with a two-RBI single, scoring shortstop Rafael Furcal and third baseman Casey Blake.

In the second, first baseman James Loney and left fielder Marcus Thames each singled. Then, Hector Gimenez, a catcher getting in some work as a designated hitter, drove Loney home on a sacrifice fly.

In the fifth, it was Rod Barajas' turn. He added a fourth run to the Dodgers' total by launching a homer off Angels lefty Trevor Reckling first pitch over the left-field fence and into a crowd of picnickers perched on a lawn overlooking the park.

In the eighth, there was some insurance. Veteran infielder Jamey Carroll walked, stole second and moved to third on a routine ground-out. Then, he scored on a Xavier Paul sacrifice.

"I thought we attacked the strike zone," Mattingly said.

Notes: Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to start Monday against the Chicago White Sox, who will counter with right-hander Gavin Floyd. ... When the Dodgers opened camp on Feb. 16, Mattingly announced that Kershaw was his Opening Day starter on March 31 against the San Francisco Giants. ... Angels LHP Dallas Braden is scheduled to start Monday against Oakland A's right-hander Joel Pineiro. ... Mattingly knew that veteran INF Jamey Carroll is from his hometown, Evansville, Ind. But everything else about Carroll has surprised Mattingly. "Yeah, I was surprised at how good he is," Mattingly said of Carroll, who last season hit .291 and led the Dodgers with a .379 on-base percentage.