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Sure, Eric Gagne was the longest of long shots to make it this spring, and the spring itself still has three more weeks to it, but it is painful to watch the now-goggle-less Gagne struggle on the mound. Gagne gave up three more runs today, on four hits, including a rocket home run to Brandon Allen, as the Diamondbacks beat the Dodgers 7-3. Gagne has been scored upon in all three outings this spring, and even though the sample size is small, he has not looked the part of a major league pitcher out there on the mound.
Arizona announcer Jeff Munn, on the KTAR broadcast, summed up Gagne's day pretty well:
If Gagne is auditioning for a spot on the roster, he better burn the tape from today.
Not that there was much doubt before, but I think it's safe to say Ramon Troncoso will be able to claim his old number 38 back come opening day.
In other news...
- Chad Billingsley pitched three scoreless innings, allowing three hits, a walk, a hit batsman, and had four strikeouts
- Scott Elbert did not fare so well, walking four hitters en route to giving up three runs in 1.2 innings in his first "A" game action this spring
- Blake DeWitt clubbed a three-run home run in the third inning which at the time gave the Dodgers a 3-0 lead
- Pedro Baez, up from minor league camp, got the start at third base, and was the only player on either team to play all nine innings
- The Dodgers used ten players from minor league camp in today's game in Tucson: Baez, Andrew Lambo, Dee Gordon, Scott Van Slyke, Jaime Pedroza, Jay Gibbons, Brandon Watson, Steven Caseres, Preston Mattingly, and pitcher Matthew Sartor
The Dodgers play the final game of their Taiwan series tonight at 10pm, and play tomorrow at Camelback Ranch against the Rangers at 1pm. Tomorrow's game will be on Prime Ticket, and will feature the Dodger debut of Garret Anderson.