Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw rekindling his competitive fire

reporting from phoenix — 

No longer a kid trying to break into the big leagues, Clayton Kershaw has the luxury of using spring training to prepare himself for opening day instead of worrying about results.

But Kershaw said that type of thinking doesn’t sit well with him.

“It’s hard for me to say, ‘I’m going to work on this,’ ” he said. “The competitor in you doesn’t want to get shelled.”

Kershaw said he doesn’t think those instincts have to be tamed.

“I think part of spring training is getting back into competitive mode,” he said. “It’s your first time facing batters in a while. For me, that the biggest thing to work on.”

Kershaw was pleased with the way he pitched Friday in the Dodgers’ 3-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.

In addition to fulfilling his objective of throwing his breaking ball for strikes — he said he failed to do so with any consistency in his previous start — he was able to toss three scoreless innings. His only misstep was walking the first two batters he faced in the third inning, something he made up for by retiring the next three.

Manny making money

Manny Ramirez told reporters in Taiwan that he volunteered to take the 15-hour plane ride to the island nation because he likes traveling to different parts of the world.

But Ramirez had a more tangible incentive to be part of the 33-man split squad that began its three-game exhibition series on Friday. The promoter of the series, Bros Sports, told Taiwan’s Central News Agency that it agreed to pay Ramirez $170,000 in appearance and endorsement fees to ensure his participation in the series.

Ramirez will earn a $20-million salary from the Dodgers this year.

Dodgers face Chapman

The Dodgers got their first look at left-hander Aroldis Chapman, the Cuban defector with the 100-mph fastball who was signed by the Reds to a $30.25-million contract.

The 22-year-old Chapman pitched two scoreless innings, striking out two.

“You have to look for something in the middle of the plate because with a high fastball, you don’t have a chance,” said Rafael Furcal, who got one of the Dodgers’ two infield hits against Chapman.

Short hops

Third base coach Larry Bowa left in the middle of the game and went to a nearby emergency room because of stomach cramps. Hitting coach Don Mattingly downplayed the situation. “I think he might just be trying to get out of that Tucson trip,” Mattingly said, referring to the two-hour bus ride the Dodgers have to take for Saturday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. … Garret Anderson could play in his first game of the exhibition season on Sunday, Mattingly said.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com

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