--LHP Randy Wolf has not won his first start of any season since 2003, when he won at Florida as a member of the Phillies. Wolf is back with the Dodgers for the second time in three seasons, and his debut this time was eerily similar to his 2007 debut, which also came in the second game of that season. Each time, Wolf took a one-run lead into the bottom of the sixth inning and gave it up, then on a two-run homer by Milwaukee's Kevin Mench and this time on a two-run double by San Diego's Chase Headley.
--INF Blake DeWitt will be the starting shortstop whenever Rafael Furcal gets a day off, manager Joe Torre said. Furcal is expected to be rested at least once a week this season because of his history of injuries and the abandon with which he plays the game. DeWitt hadn't played shortstop since high school, but he made 11 appearances there during spring training and proved he was capable. --C Danny Ardoin, who was outrighted last week to clear a 40-man spot, accepted his assignment to Class AAA Albuquerque. Ardoin will receive a minor league salary of $210,750 this season to be A.J. Ellis' backup. Ardoin started 17 games behind the plate for the Dodgers last season and appeared in seven other games.
BY THE NUMBERS: 6.31 -- Spring-training ERA for the Dodgers heading into their final game on Sunday against San Francisco. Dodgers pitchers allowed 221 earned runs in 315 1/3 innings. Of the additional 23 runs that were unearned, seven of them came in one outing by non-roster left-hander Eric Milton on March 20 against Kansas City, when he gave up four consecutive two-out hits in a six-run inning. The Dodgers had 13 pitchers with at least five appearances who had six-plus ERAs.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "A big part of it is the approach, having an understanding of what the pitcher is trying to do and of situations and these guys developing a game plan as they go. That is when a team gets a lot better. But at the same time, you have to be careful about too much information. You can't give a baby solid food right away. You don't want these guys up there thinking too much." -- Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly on the growth of the Dodgers' young players.
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