Maeda meets expectations in Dodgers debut

March 5th, 2016

PHOENIX -- Debuting for their respective new clubs, Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda pitched two scoreless innings and D-backs starter Shelby Miller allowed two runs in two innings as the Dodgers beat Arizona on Saturday, 7-2.
The Dodgers won the game in the sixth inning, breaking open a 2-2 tie with doubles by Trayce Thompson and Alex Hassan and a two-run pinch-hit homer by Rob Segedin off Daniel Gibson.
Segedin, a non-roster third baseman obtained in a January trade from the Yankees, led off the eighth with a solo shot.
"He's a baseball player," manager Dave Roberts said of Segedin. "He's had injuries, but he can catch and he can throw with accuracy. He gets in the box and that's fun to watch."
Maeda struck out two and allowed a double, with the only threat being snuffed out when Phil Gosselin was caught trying to steal third base against a defensive shift to end the first inning.

Miller allowed a run in each of his two innings, one on a Yasiel Puig sacrifice fly, the other on Corey Brown's RBI single.

Arizona tied the game in the third inning with a pair of runs off Dodgers reliever Chris Hatcher, one scoring on Jason Bourgeois' RBI double, the other on Nick Ahmed's sacrifice fly.

Maeda said he was pleased with his command and conceded he was a little bit nervous before the start of the game, which was televised live to Japan at 5 a.m. Sunday.
"I was glad to be able to pitch well so I can be prepared for the season opening," said Maeda. "I wanted to throw a lot of strikes and I was glad I could pitch well in front of the fans. It was good overall."
Up next for D-backs: The D-backs host the Cubs on Sunday at 1:10 p.m. MST at Salt River Fields with left-hander Patrick Corbin getting his first start of the spring. Center fielder A.J. Pollock will likely hit leadoff for the D-backs as manager Chip Hale continues to try different combinations with his lineup.
Up next for Dodgers: On Sunday at 12:05 p.m. PT Zach Lee will start for the Dodgers vs. the Giants in place of Brett Anderson, who is out after back surgery. Brandon Beachy and Mike Bolsinger are considered the favorites to replace Anderson in the rotation, but Lee is part of a group of young pitchers who have virtually an entire spring schedule to win the job. Lee is the former LSU quarterback recruit who bypassed football to sign with the Dodgers for $5.25 million.