Dodgers, Marlins get it started with a thriller

COSTA MESA - After being shut down with no hits in the first four

innings the Dodgers rallied with a four-run fifth inning Saturday as the

Costa Mesa National Little League got under way on Saturday on the Majors

level.

The winning rally came when Bryan Bennet drew a free pass, then Cory

Weikel and Mike McDaniels were safe on errors to fill the bases. The blow

was delivered by Brian Sankey, whose long fly ball to the gap sent three

runners to the plate.

McDaniels pitched the first four innings for the Dodgers and struck

out seven.

Justin Law took over on the mound in the fifth inning and finished up

with three strikeouts.

A key defensive play for the Dodgers came when center-fielder Brandon

Grimmett threw to third baseman Parker Roth to cut down a Marlin

baserunner, saving a run in process.

Elsewhere in the Majors on Saturday:

Diamondbacks 8, Astros 0: Austin Eliott pitched four innings of no-hit

ball, strIking out six, as the Diamondbacks shut the Astros down.

Brandon Mauer pitched two relief innings and struck out four.

Allen Kinkaide was 4 for 4 and Trevor McDonald, Taylor McClanahan and

Mauer each had two hits.

Also contributing offensively were Ryan Redding, Matthew Redding,

Riley Hart, Andrew Ayala and Eliott.

Despite limited practice time because of the rains, the Diamondbacks

showed sharp defensive skills as catcher McClanahan made a hard throw to

McDonald at second base to throw out an Astro trying to steal in the

first inning. The D’backs turned a double play in the fourth inning to

keep a lid on the Astros.

In a Minor A game:

Marlins 3, Diamondbacks 1: Johnny Persons pitched a two-hitter and

went the distance, striking out nine batters on Opening Day.

Nicholas de Pietre doubled, while Kyle Lux, Evan Kipnis and Persons

each singled.

Defensively, Cameron Santana caught the entire game and made a great

throw to Corey Ames at second base to cut down a steal attempt.

Zachary Arane made a play from deep right field to second for an out

to save a run. And Juan Moreno at first base and Kipnis at second base

were instrumental in the victory with their defensive savvy.

In a Minor B game:

Marlins 8, Cardinals 4: Daniel Carter, Joshua Erno and Joseph Egger

shared pitching duties and combined for 10 strikouts for the Marlins.

Joshua Ryding and James Wanbaugh doubled. Erno and Carter singled.

Pedro Rivera, Bryan Guzman, Julian Velasquez and Jacob Wachman all

helped out offensively with walks, and all scored.

Defensive skills were evident as Carter and Wanbaugh copmbined to hang

up a Cardinal runner between second and third, with pitcher Erno alertly

covering third base to apply the tag.