Garret Anderson helps Dodgers take early lead over Angels in exhibition game

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The Dodgers jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the Angels in the first inning of their spring-training game Monday, thanks partly to an RBI single by Garret Anderson, who spent the first 14 years of his major league career with the Angels.

The 37-year-old Anderson, trying to win a bench job with the Dodgers, drew a warm reception from the packed crowed at Tempe Diablo Stadium -- the Angels’ spring-training home -- as he walked to the plate for his first at-bat, with teammates Blake DeWitt on second and Matt Kemp on first. Some fans stood as they clapped for Anderson, who holds the Angels’ record in several offensive categories.

Anderson then hit a bloop single to center field off Angels starter Scott Kazmir to drive home DeWitt, and Casey Blake followed with another single to score Kemp.

-- Jim Peltz in Tempe, Ariz.