Dodgers spring training 2013: Ted Lilly lasts only two-plus innings at Salt River Fields

Ted Lilly was scheduled to be limited to 50-60 pitches, and he "would like to have gotten into the fourth inning", as he stated after his outing, for today's split-squad road game with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He got those pitches to last only two-plus innings however, as the green-capped Dodgers fell 9-1 in front of a house record 12,809 fans at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on St. Patrick's Day.

Lilly has endured a challenging spring, with a start missed because he had the flu, another start shortened with rain and hail delays, and then a "start" in relief of another starter his last time out.

Nonetheless, Lilly, when asked after his outing Sunday if his remaining three starts do allow him enough time to be ready for the opening-day rotation, replied, "I should be able to [be ready], yes; [it's] just a matter of pitching well. That's what I need to focus on, making quality pitches."

Ted Lilly sported a bright green bat for St. Patrick's Day

That's not what happened in the third inning when Lilly, who termed his command "suspect", faced five batters in the third and they all reached base safely to end his day. He wound up being charged with five earned runs on the day, as he allowed five hits and walked three, while striking out two.

Still, Lilly is confident he'll be ready for April. "I'm still not happy with the way I threw the ball," he said in the clubhouse. "At this point I don't think my stuff is as good as it can be, but I definitely believe it will get better."

Notes

• Only one probable opening day starter made the trip, and Matt Kemp went 1-2 with a walk, the hit being his first spring home run, a long fly ball that seemed to threaten the left-field scoreboard before landing half-way up the berm, well beyond the 390-foot sign. His shot was off a 1-2 inside pitch from side-arming right-hander Brad Ziegler.
• Arizona starter Trevor Cahill stymied the Dodgers offense, holding them to one hit and two walks in five shutout innings.
• Yasiel Puig started in left field today as he continues to man all the outfield positions. He collected the lone hit off Cahill, a seeing-eye roller up the middle with the Diamondbacks shortstop positioned toward the the hole between second and third base.
• Puig also stole two bases after his single, sliding head-first both times. The second steal was perhaps unadvised as it came with two outs and Puig already in scoring position.
• Pitcher Chris Withrow started the sixth inning but came out after being struck in the left leg by a batted ball. He was seen walking around the clubhouse later, but no announcement was made regarding his condition.