Kluber, Kershaw duel in strong final tuneups

March 30th, 2016

PHOENIX -- Two of the best -- and most decorated -- pitchers in the Major Leagues took the mound Wednesday afternoon at Camelback Ranch and gave their fans a preview of what could be in store when the regular season begins next week.
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw allowed two hits in three scoreless innings and Indians star Corey Kluber also shined, allowing only one run on six hits in 4 1/3 innings in Cleveland's 4-3 victory.
Kershaw, who will open the season Monday against the Padres in San Diego, struck out four batters and walked two. Kluber, who will pitch Opening Day on Monday against the Red Sox in Cleveland, struck out six before yielding to Jeff Manship in the fifth.

"It was a good last one for me," Kluber said. "I think I did a good job of keeping the ball down. That was kind of my goal coming into today. I don't feel like I did a very good job of that last time out, so it was nice to be able to make that adjustment."
"[He was] good," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He wanted to get to about 70 [pitches], so we sent him back out to face a couple hitters. I thought he threw the ball really well. He's ready to go."
Both pitchers won Cy Young Awards in 2014.
"It's good to finish up and get your work in," Kershaw said. "Now it counts, so it's good."
Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis scored his team's first run on a single by Charlie Culberson in the second inning. The Indians pulled ahead, 2-1, in the fourth on RBI doubles by Juan Uribe and Roberto Perez off Carlos Frias. The Indians tacked on runs in the fifth and seventh innings with Frias on the mound.
In the end, Frias, who is competing for the fifth spot in the rotation, was charged with four runs -- three earned -- on four hits in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked five.
Manship struck out three in 1 2/3 scoreless innings for Cleveland before being replaced by Cody Allen.
The Dodgers scored a run in the eighth on Trayce Thompson's homer and another in the ninth on Culberson's RBI single before their rally was cut short when the potential tying run was thrown out at the plate to end the game.
Up next for the Indians: Right-hander Carlos Carrasco, who is poised to be Cleveland's No. 2 starter, is scheduled to take the mound on Thursday in a 3:05 p.m. ET tilt against the Reds at Goodyear Ballpark for his final outing of the spring. It will also mark the Indians' Cactus League finale before heading to Texas for exhibition games against the Rangers on Friday and Saturday. The game can be heard on an exclusive MLB.com webcast.
Up next for the Dodgers: They return to Los Angeles for the Freeway Series against the Angels, beginning Thursday night at 7:10 p.m. PT on MLB.TV. Scott Kazmir will face Andrew Heaney on Thursday, and Kenta Maeda will take on Hector Santiago on Friday at Dodger Stadium. Alex Wood will pitch against Nick Tropeano on Saturday in Anaheim. Following Sunday's off-day, the Dodgers will begin the regular season on Monday against the Padres at PETCO Park.