Barnes' homer rewards Maeda's gem vs. Angels

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Kenta Maeda's brilliant start and Austin Barnes' tie-breaking two-run home run were enough to push the Dodgers past the Angels, 3-1, on Monday afternoon before a sellout crowd of 9,111 in Tempe Diablo Stadium.
Maeda was razor-sharp, allowing only one hit -- an Albert Pujols solo home run in the second inning -- in 3 2/3 innings of work. Maeda struck out seven batters, including the side in order in the first inning and three strikeouts in the third, which amounted to a four-out frame because of a wild pitch that allowed a runner to reach first.
"The life of his fastball in the zone, and the conviction he had throwing it, was really good," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Maeda. "He's got such good command, but sometimes he tries to be too fine. Today he was down in the zone and he executed all day."
Angels starter Ricky Nolasco was equally effective early on, allowing one run on a Justin Turner run-scoring double in the third inning.
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The Dodgers broke the 1-1 deadlock in the fourth when Nolasco walked Cody Bellinger, allowed him to take second on a wild pitch and then gave up a two-out, two-run homer to Barnes, the Dodgers catcher's second long ball of the spring.
Pujols' homer, a shot to left field, was his first Cactus League round-tripper this year. The defensive highlight of the game was a nifty relay from Angels left fielder Cameron Maybin to shortstop Nolan Fontana, to catcher Martín Maldonado that nailed Chase Utley at home to end the top of the third inning.

Nolasco kept his spring progression on track, going four innings and allowing three runs on four hits while striking out two and walking one.
"I was just being aggressive, trying to fill up the zone, and toward the end there, a couple of base hits with two outs, I'd like to clean that up and make a pitch with two outs," Nolasco said. "I hung a slider for the homer, obviously … but that's what we're here for. To work on stuff."
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Dodgers up next: The Dodgers will be home Tuesday afternoon for a 1:05 p.m. PT game against the Cincinnati Reds at Camelback Ranch. Left-hander Rich Hill (0-2, 12.60 ERA) will get the start in his fourth Cactus League appearance of the spring. Hill has given up seven runs on four hits and seven walks in five innings of work. He has four strikeouts.
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Angels up next: The Angels will hit the road to Surprise Stadium on Tuesday for a 1:05 p.m. PT game against the Kansas City Royals. Right-hander Matt Shoemaker (0-0, 9.00 ERA) will get the start for the Angels. It will be his third appearance of the spring as he comes back from the skull fracture and brain surgery he suffered after being struck in the head by a 105-mph line drive in a game last September. Righty Ian Kennedy (1-0, 0.00) will start for the Royals .
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