Spring training 2013: Aaron Harang fizzles, Matt Magill sizzles in Dodgers' 11-7 win over Cubs

It may not have been the prettiest game in the world, but after three hours, 45 minutes of baseball, the Dodgers emerged victorious on Wednesday, with an 11-7 win over the Cubs at HoHoKam Park in Mesa.

Both teams committed three errors, and 15 pitchers were used in the game, including eight by the Cubs.

Aaron Harang started and was not effective, as he allowed four runs on five hits and a walk in a 37-pitch first inning. But he did recover to retire the final four batters he faced, including the three in the second frame on nine pitches.

"He may have had a little trouble getting loose, and said he felt better the next time through," manager Don Mattingly said of Harang. "It's still the first outing of spring. He bounced back, and we'll see where we go from here. We're not going to try to judge any of these guys the first time out of the gate, all veterans."

None of the six Dodgers pitchers after Harang allowed an earned run, though Mark Lowe and Ronald Belisario combined to allow three unearned runs in their two combined innings of work.

The most impressive pitcher of the day for the Dodgers was Matt Magill, who struck out five in his two scoreless innings, and allowed just one walk.

"I've just been locating my fastball, and my slider, curve ball and change up have all been working for me. I've been trying to put the pitches where they need to be, and it's just working right now," Magill said. "I know I have great defense behind me so it's been huge for me just to be able to do my thing."

Magill has pitched 3⅓ scoreless innings in two games, and has struck out eight of his 12 batters faced.

"I've been trying to find my timing and my windup, and it seems to be working right now," Magill said. "In the stretch I just try to stay simple and get out in front, and get on top of the ball."

Magill, who was added to the 40-man roster on Nov. 20, is in his first big league camp. But he hasn't yet had a chance to work with Sandy Koufax, who has been in camp for 12 days.

"I was just listening from afar," Magill said. "It was tough, he was a popular guy."

Notes

• Matt Kemp took batting practice against live pitchers for the second consecutive day, and also took regular batting practice as well. Mattingly, who threw to Kemp during his normal BP session, said Kemp had a few swings and misses without it bothering him, including several with full extension of his surgically repaired left shoulder.
• Carl Crawford didn't take batting practice against live pitchers on Wednesday, but he did stand in during a few bullpen sessions to help him track pitches.
• Alfredo Amezaga played second base for the Dodgers on Wednesday, his fifth position in four games, and had three hits in three at-bats, all in the first three innings.
  
• Alex Castellanos homered for a second straight day
• Yasiel Puig had two hits in three at-bats, and the out was a long fly ball just short of the 410 sign on the center field wall. Scott Hairston dropped the ball for an error and Puig later scored, one of his three runs scored on the day. Puig also showed off his strong arm in center field with a one-hop throw to the plate, though he did miss the cutoff man on the play.
  
  "He's been good. There is not a whole lot that's not to like really. You see him run the bases and he's going to for two, but I still love seeing that. We'll just let him keep playing and get some baseball under his belt," Mattingly said. "The sky's the limit. This guy's got a body."
• Luis Cruz, who has missed the last two games with the flu, is expected back in the lineup on Thursday, if healthy. "If he feels good, he'll play," Mattingly said.
• Perspective check: In 2012 the first spring training game for the Dodgers was Mar. 5, 31 days before opening day. The equivalent date this year is Friday

Next game

Thursday, 12:05 p.m. PT vs. Angels at Camelback Ranch

Clayton Kershaw starts for the Dodgers, against Jerome Williams for the Angels. Ted Lilly, Peter Moylan, Josh Wall, and Steven Ames are also scheduled to pitch for Los Angeles.