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Sports

Gonzalez finally tagged, but A's win 9-2

Associated Press
Published | Updated

PHOENIX – Gio Gonzalez finally gave up a run. Chad Billingsley gave up a whole bunch of them.

Gonzalez allowed a solo homer to Aaron Miles for his first earned run of the spring, but an Oakland Athletics split squad beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-2 Friday.

"A couple of the guys were saying 'Better to get it out of the way now instead of going out there and keep throwing up zeroes and when the season starts, hopefully you don't get that reverse effect,'" Gonzalez said. "I feel good. The arm feels great and just got to continue building strength and keep going out there and finding the strike zone."

Josh Willingham, Chris Carter and Andy LaRoche drove in runs off Billingsley, and Coco Crisp homered and had three hits. Crisp is 11 for 23 in the spring.

"Jeez, Coco, save it for the season," Gonzalez said.

Billingsley, who'd allowed one earned run in 6 2-3 previous innings, gave up four in his third spring training start.

He committed a balk and walked four before exiting after 3 1-3 innings Friday.

"My curveball's not where I want it to be," Billingsley said. "Just couldn't get a good feel for it. I wasn't getting my offspeed (pitches) over for strikes, and that's going to happen.

"It's only March."

Gonzalez pitched 4 1-3 innings in his third spring training start and had a shutout until Miles homered in the fourth.

Matt Kemp also homered for the Dodgers.

Notes: A's DH Hideki Matsui issued a statement via the club regarding the earthquake that struck Japan earlier Friday. "I am deeply concerned and affected by what is happening in Japan," Matsui said. "I pray for the safety of all the people that have been affected and continue to be affected by this disaster." Matsui, who lives in Tokyo in the offseason, went 0 for 4 and grounded into a double play in the game. ... The wife of Dodgers INF Juan Castro, Yadira, gave birth to the couple's second child Thursday night. Castro is expected to return Saturday. ... The Dodgers optioned RHP Luis Vasquez to minor-league camp on Friday.