GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Chad Billingsley is
happy to work on -- and maybe even worry about -- pitches he knows he
has to refine. He's able to proceed because of what has not been a
concern at all.
He said his right elbow is fine.
Billingsley threw 3 1-3 innings Thursday
for the Los Angeles Dodgers in an 11-all tie with the Texas Rangers. He
has pitched 7 1-3 innings this spring after rehabilitation for a
partial tear in his elbow last August.
"I'm throwing all my pitches," said
Billingsley, who retired nine straight batters before the Rangers got to
him in the fourth for two hits that led to two runs. "No problem, no
problems at all. I'm bouncing back. I think it's behind, but you never
know."
Billingsley, competing for a spot in the
rotation, chose last season to skip Tommy John surgery, which probably
would have sidelined for the 2013 season. Instead, he had the elbow
injected with plasma rich in platelets.
"Two injections," he said. "I'm absolutely happy that's what I did."
In his third start this spring, he looked strong through three scoreless innings. In the fourth, Texas got to him.
"That's spring training," he said.
"With each game, you start to work on things and add pitches. For me,
that meant incorporating my cutter."
The Dodgers tied it in the bottom of
the ninth on a three-run homer by minor league outfielder Matt Angle. He
hit a pitch from Josh Lindbloom into the Dodgers' bullpen.
Adrian Beltre hit his first homer this spring, a two-run shot in the fifth for Texas.
"I'm tracking the ball well," said
Beltre, who is 3 for 10 this spring. "I'm not seeing the ball, not
really. But that will happen with more at-bats."
Beltre was with the Dodgers from 1998 to 2004.
"I think I'm over that," he said. "But it's always nice to beat up on them a little bit."
NOTES:
Dodgers LF Carl Crawford hit balls off a tee and remained hopeful he'll
be ready for opening day despite nerve irritation in a surgically
repaired left elbow that has limited him in drills and kept him out of
spring training games. "There's still a chance I'll be ready," said
Crawford, who dismissed talk that he probably won't play April 1 against
the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. He is scheduled to hit off a
tee again Friday. He has yet to resume throwing. The Dodgers are trying
to determine whether swinging or throwing caused the irritation. ...
Reliever Javy Guerra was back in the Dodgers' clubhouse. He was declared
ineligible for Mexico's team in the World Baseball Classic team because
of a rule prohibiting participation by players coming off injury.
Guerra had shoulder surgery in November. "Crazy," Guerra said. "I was
100 percent going in and I'm 100 percent coming back." ... The Rangers
play Milwaukee on Friday at Maryvale. Michael Kirkman is Texas'
scheduled starter.
