Season Opens On a Sour Note in Albuquerque

When Mike Scioscia dreamed up his managerial debut, it looked nothing like the debacle that was the Albuquerque Dukes’ opener Thursday night.

‘That wasn’t at all like I’d scripted it,’ Scioscia said after his team’s 12-1 loss to the Tacoma Rainiers on the opening day of the Pacific Coast League season.

It was the Dukes’ worst opening-day loss since the team became the Dodgers’ triple-A affiliate in 1972.

The Dukes started off well, at least for a few minutes. Center fielder Kevin Gibbs had a leadoff single and right-handed starter Mike Judd retired the first four Tacoma batters.

But then everything fell apart.

In the second inning, Tacoma sent 14 batters the plate and scored seven runs.

The Rainiers went on to score in every other inning except the eighth and ninth.

“Just awful,’ said Duke catcher Angel Pena.

While the Rainiers’ offense was piling up single after single, finishing the game with 17 hits, the Dukes’ bats went dead.

Twenty-six outs passed between Albuquerque’s only two hits. With two out in the ninth, Pena, one of the Dodgers’ top prospects, doubled home designated hitter Chance Sanford, who had walked.

“This wasn’t a game you want to package up and send to anybody,” said Scioscia, who played for the Dodgers from 1980-92. “These guys beat us in every phase of the game. But there were some bright spots--not many, though.”

Scioscia was pleased with the play of Pena, who was one for four.

Said Pena: “The first game is important, but we’ll get better. Maybe tomorrow.”

Other prospects didn’t fare so well.

Juan Castro, usually a solid defensive shortstop, made a throwing error in the fifth and went 0 for three.

First baseman Scott Livingstone committed two errors and struck out twice.

Judd, 23, lasted only 3 2/3 innings after giving up 10 runs on 12 hits.

Adam Riggs was solid at second base but struck out three times.

In fact, the first four slots in the Dukes’ batting order combined for 10 strikeouts.

Tacoma pitcher Ken Cloude lasted six innings, giving up one hit and striking out six.

The Dukes finished last season 61-82, their third consecutive losing season. Since they started playing at the triple-A level, they have never had four seasons in a row below .500.

“This was a good wake-up call,” said left fielder Kevin Grijak. “We know we’re capable of doing much more.”

Many of the top Dodger prospects were traded away last season, so the Dodgers had to sign a few free agents to fill out the Dukes’ roster.

Former major leaguers suiting up for the Dukes include outfielders Eric Anthony and Wes Chamberlain, infielders Roberto Mejia and Livingstone, and pitchers Shawn Boskie and Jamie Arnold.

Trenidad Hubbard, who was the Dodgers’ opening-day center fielder in 1998, did not play for the Dukes Thursday. Scioscia said he will be in the lineup tonight.

Former Dodger and Duke manager Tom Lasorda was among the crowd of 6,186.