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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, March 14, 2010

MLB: LA Dodgers beat Taiwan All-Stars 11-1


Associated Press

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan — Manny Ramirez went 3 for 4 and scored three runs to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 11-1 victory over the Taiwanese All-Stars on Sunday in the final game of a rain-shortened exhibition series in Taiwan.

James Loney also had three hits for the Dodgers, while minor league prospect Trayvon Robinson had a two-run homer and three RBIs. Xavier Paul and Michael Restovich added two hits apiece.

Dodgers starter Josh Towers gave up three hits and a run in the bottom of the first, then settled down to blank the Taiwanese in two more innings of work.

"Right now, this is practice and I'm not quite in form yet, but I'm getting into shape," said Ramirez, who was again the designated hitter. "I still need to play outfield. This was good experience. This league is good and the competition is good as well."

The Dodgers fielded a mixed squad of major and minor leaguers against the Taiwanese team, which won the first game in the series 5-2 on Friday in Taipei.

Towers, whose start was rained out Saturday, got the call in place of the injured Hong-Chih Kuo, who missed the opportunity to pitch against his countrymen because of a sore elbow.

Josh Lindblom relieved Towers and threw three scoreless innings. He gave up one hit and a walk while striking out three. Jon Link got in out out of trouble in pitching a scoreless ninth.

After the game, Ramirez thanked Taiwanese fans for their enthusiastic reception of him.

"I want to express my thanks to all the people in Taiwan who received me so warmly," he said. "The Taiwanese league is a strong league with good pitching."

NOTES: Four players were sent down after the game in the Dodgers' first cuts of the spring. Non-roster players Brian Barton, Francisco Felix and Gabriel Gutierrez were reassigned to minor league camp. Pitcher Kenley Jansen was optioned from the major league roster.