Freeway Series: Zack Greinke, Matt Kemp shine as Dodgers drop finale, 2-1

Zack Greinke was solid in his final spring tuneup on Saturday night, as the Dodgers lost to the Angels 2-1 in Anaheim in the finale of the three-game weekend Freeway Series, on a walk-off home run by Hank Conger of Yimi Garcia.

Greinke threw 81 pitches in his five innings, both spring highs for the right-hander who was sidelined mid-spring with elbow inflammation. Greinke threw 45 of his 81 pitches for strikes, walked one, and struck out five. He will make his Dodgers regular season debut in six days, on Apr. 5 against the Pirates at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers scored their only run of the game in the first inning, using the legs of leadoff man Carl Crawford. The left fielder walked, then stole second, advanced to third base on a ground out, then scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Matt Kemp.

Kemp, who drove in a run in each of the three games of the series, also had two hits Saturday night and won the Fresco Thompson Award as the Most Valuable Player of the Freeway Series. Kemp hit .556 (5-for-9) with a double, a triple, three runs, and three runs batted in in the three games.

The Dodgers and Angels reinstated the Fresco Thompson (MVP) and Lefty Phillips (best pitcher) awards for the preseason Freeway Series, something not given out since 2007. Hyun-jin Ryu, who retired all 12 batters he faced on Thursday, won the top pitcher honor.

Chris Capuano pitched a scoreless seventh inning in relief, adjusting to his new role. Capuano threw 15 pitches in his one inning, allowed one hit, and struck out one batter.

Up next

The Dodgers are off on Sunday, a final day of rest before the regular season begins. The Dodgers host the Giants on Monday afternoon at 1 p.m. PT, with Clayton Kershaw on the mound against Matt Cain for San Francisco.