GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Andre Ethier hit a three-run homer and Juan Uribe added a solo shot in the first inning off Oakland’s Jarrod Parker as the Los Angeles Dodgers and A’s played to an 8-all tie Monday.
The game was stopped after nine innings.
Ethier got his first homer this spring by launching a long drive over the center-field wall. Carl Crawford walked and Hanley Ramirez singled before Ethier homered.
“I just squared one up,” said Ethier, who is hitting .320 over nine spring games. “It’s about time I squared one up. But it’s good. It just adds to what I’ve been trying to do this spring. It’s part of the progression. Early on, I didn’t want to hit too many balls with too much power. This is one step in the process.”
Parker allowed four hits and struck out five in 4 2-3 innings.
“I got a little more aggressive,” Parker said. “I got comfortable and so I was able to move the ball around, get to my changeup, throw it for a strike and finish when I needed to.”
Hyun-Jin Ryu, who will start on March 23 in the Dodgers’ season-opening series against Arizona in Australia, worked five innings. He struck out four and allowed three hits, including a home run to Michael Taylor in the fifth.
After reliever Brandon League gave up a two-run homer to A’s third-baseman Josh Donaldson in the sixth, the Dodgers scored four runs in a seventh inning led by Miguel Olivo’s three-RBI double. The A’s tied it up in the eighth with five runs off six hits against three Dodger pitchers, including Brian Wilson, who was finished after throwing 13 pitches.
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly and trainers went out to the mound to speak to Wilson after facing his first hitter, Addison Russell, who doubled. Mattingly said that Dodger pitching coach Rick Honeycutt saw a possible injury.
“I think he’s OK,” said Mattingly, who had planned to limit Wilson to 15 pitches anyway. “I went out there, because Rick said he thought he saw something. Brian said he wasn’t hurting anywhere. He’s sounds fine.”
STARTING TIME
Athletics: Parker is considered the leading candidate to start opening day March 31 against Cleveland in Oakland. Scott Kazmir and Sonny Gray are also possibilities. Parker says he’d love to start, but he isn’t worried about it.
“I’m working to get ready for the season, no matter when I pitch,” he said. “As long as I’m healthy and good to go.”
Dodgers: Ryu threw 69 pitches in his third spring-training appearance.
“I used all of my pitches and built up my pitch count,” Ryu said through an interpreter. “I’m very satisfied with my command. Everything was down in the zone.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: Russell, a shortstop, injured his right hamstring running out a grounder to third base in the eighth inning. A’s manager Bob Melvin said he didn’t know how bad it was. Russell, who is hitting .280 this spring, left the field on a cart.
Dodgers: Zack Greinke threw 25 pitches Monday in a bullpen session. He also ran to third base in a fielding drill. He felt no discomfort in his right calf. He sustained a strain while throwing four pitches against Arizona in his only spring start on Feb. 27. There’s a chance he could start Wednesday against Arizona.
“His energy was good today,” Mattingly said. “As always, we’ll wait until the morning to see where we’re at. Then, we’ll decide what’s next. If everything goes good, something Wednesday. ... Matt Kemp, who is coming back from ankle surgery, played in an intrasquad game. He went 1 for 5 with a walk, a sacrifice fly, two RBIs and two strikeouts.
MORE FAMILIAR, BUT NEVER COMFORTABLE
Dee Gordon continues to look like the Dodgers’ next second baseman. He says he started to figure out the position’s fielding angles.
“I feel pretty good,” said Gordon, who is 8 for 8 this spring in stolen-base attempts. “But I was telling myself out in the infield today: ‘Don’t get satisfied.’ For me, the only bonus this spring will be getting on that plane to Australia.”
CUTS
The Dodgers optioned right-hander Matt Magill to the minors. Four other players were reassigned to the minor league side of the Dodgers’ complex at Camelback Ranch.
