Victorino, League whiff in debuts
Los Angeles outfielder Shane Victorino and Arizona catcher Miguel Montero watched Victorino's eighth-inning popup, which Montero then caught. Victorino went 0-for-4 in his Dodgers debut.
LOS ANGELES » It was a mostly forgettable Dodgers debut for Hawaii natives Shane Victorino and Brandon League on Wednesday, as Los Angeles fell to Arizona 4-0.
Victorino was 0-for-4 in left field, a day after he was acquired from Philadelphia during the final hours before the non-waiver trade deadline.
League, whose trade from Seattle was announced the day before Victorino’s move, gave up an earned run in 1/3 of an inning.
Meanwhile, Arizona pitcher Patrick Corbin was brimming with confidence as he began his third stint this season with the Diamondbacks, convinced that he belonged with the big club on a permanent basis.
His solid outing against the Dodgers only confirmed that notion.
The 23-year-old left-hander pitched two-hit ball over six innings following his promotion from Triple-A Reno on Wednesday, and the Diamondbacks got home runs from Miguel Montero and newcomer Chris Johnson to complete their first three-game sweep at Dodger Stadium since 2007.
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It was a homecoming of sorts for Maui native Victorino, the two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, who was selected by the Dodgers in the sixth round of the 1999 draft but never got to play for them until Wednesday. Manager Don Mattingly switched to uniform No. 12 so Victorino could have his familiar No. 8. He became the eighth player Mattingly has used in the leadoff spot this season, and the ninth to start in left field.
"You always want to get to the team that drafted you in the big leagues," the St. Anthony alum said. "Now I get to wear Dodger Blue again — not as a young kid, but as a guy who has had time in the big leagues, has had some fun and some great moments. I’m trying to relive those moments here."
Two-time All-Star Bobby Abreu was designated for assignment to clear a spot for Victorino.
Saint Louis School alum League came on in relief at the start of the eighth inning but quickly gave up an infield single to Paul Goldschmidt.
After inducing a fielders choice groundout to Justin Upton, League was lifted for Randy Choate. Choate promptly gave up a two-run homer to Miguel Montero and League was tagged with a run.
The Dodgers’ only hits were a two-out single by Matt Kemp in the first inning and a two-out single by rookie pitcher Stephen Fife in the second. They were outscored 19-4 in the series, which followed a three-game sweep at rival San Francisco.
