Dodgers top Angels after teams play through 'quake
LOS ANGELES (AP) Playing through an earthquake that was felt in the ballpark, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Angels 5-4 in 10 innings Friday night after rookie Joc Pederson hit a tying home run in the eighth.
Pinch-hitter Darnell Sweeney won it with an RBI single in the 10th inning against Jeremy Berg, evening the exhibition Freeway Series at a game apiece just hours after the Angels signed Mike Trout to a $144.5 million contract.
A magnitude-5.1 earthquake was felt inside Chavez Ravine and surrounding counties at approximately 9:11 p.m., just as A.J. Ellis was batting in the Dodgers' sixth inning.
''A little tremor here in the ballpark. I'm not sure if the folks felt it, but we certainly felt it here in press box row,'' Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully said on the air. ''A tremor and only that, thank goodness.''
The epicenter was about 20 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles in Brea, a short hop down the 57 Freeway to Angel Stadium.
''I felt it,'' Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen said. ''I thought I was tripping, to be honest with you. I felt the shaking, I looked at everybody and we all were just looking at each other. Nobody said nothing. Then I said, `Did you feel it?' And everybody said, `Yeah, we felt it.' Then Luis, the security guy, came in and said, `Yeah, it was an earthquake - 5.1.'''
Josh Hamilton hit a three-run homer for the Angels. Trout was scratched because of a stomach virus, but still had a big day.
The 22-year-old outfielder finalized a six-year contract that keeps him under club control through 2020. The team said he and his family will be at a splashy news conference open to fans Saturday in the parking lot at Angel Stadium, along with owner Arte Moreno, manager Mike Scioscia and general manager Jerry Dipoto.
''I think everybody's obviously thrilled that it got done,'' Scioscia said. ''He's a special player and a special person. I think they're going to give more clarity on it tomorrow. To be honest, I don't even know the terms.''
Trout finished second in AL MVP voting to Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera in each of his first two full big league seasons. The two-time All-Star was a unanimous choice for AL Rookie of the Year in 2012.
Last month, Trout agreed to a $1 million, one-year contract for 2014. His new deal begins in 2015.
The Dodgers loaded the bases with none out in the ninth against Matt Shoemaker, who escaped unscathed. Corey Seager struck out and Pederson grounded into a 4-2-6 double play with Scioscia employing a five-man infield.
Scioscia used that same tactic in the 10th, but wasn't as fortunate.
Hamilton hit his second homer of the spring with one out in the first, and the Angels tacked on another run in the third on David Freese's two-out hit after a double by Albert Pujols.
Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez was 1 for 3, one day after he was hit on the right elbow by a pitch from Hector Santiago and removed from the game for precautionary reasons.
STARTING TIME
Angels: Right-hander Garrett Richards allowed three runs - one earned - and seven hits over 5 1-3 innings in his fifth spring start. He left with a 4-3 lead, but reliever Fernando Salas gave up Pederson's leadoff homer.
Dodgers: Zach Lee, the team's first-round draft pick in 2010, allowed four runs and five hits over five innings. He threw 72 pitches in his third start of the spring.
The 22-year-old right-hander got the assignment in place of Stephen Fife, who was ill, and will be joining Fife at Triple-A Albuquerque to start the season.
UP IN THE AIR
Two-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, who is missing a turn in the Dodgers' rotation because of a swollen muscle in his left upper back, played catch Friday and will do the same Saturday.
It's unclear if he'll be able to pitch in next Friday's home opener.
''I don't think we're ready to put that timeline out there. We still have to get past these next few days,'' manager Don Mattingly said. ''I'm sure every day is going to be a little bit of a barrier to cross. ... We're not going to let Clayton go out there if he's not 100 percent. So if there's any doubt, then we're going to hold him back.''
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AP Sports Writer Beth Harris contributed to this report.