Dodgers can’t find a proper spring finale, fall to Angels, 8-3

And then they called it a spring, mercifully, thankfully.

That was a slow, painful spring training finale played Wednesday afternoon. Unless you were the Angels, who powered four home runs on the way to an easy 8-3 victory at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers played only a couple of their regulars, and then only for a few innings, before mostly turning it over to a bunch of guys about to head for minor league parks across the country.

Unfortunately, one of those figures to be back before long, and he gave up three of the homers.

Nathan Eovaldi is the designated starting pitcher in waiting, in a line of one, expected to join the Dodgers’ rotation should injury befall any of the starting five. And three of them are at least 33 years old.

Eovaldi had enjoyed a fairly spectacular spring, entering Wednesday’s game with a 1.72 earned-run average and 1.15 WHIP.

But in his sixth and final appearance of the spring, little went right. In his 4 1/3 innings, he gave up seven runs (five earned) on eight hits and a walk. He gave up home runs to some new Angel named Albert Pujols, Mark Trumbo and Ryan Langerhans. And they were not of the cheap variety.

The Dodgers were down 8-0 by the fifth inning. At least there were few there to take in the midweek afternoon exhibition game. I know, you’re stunned. Although the announced crowd of 16,990 looked like any other crowd from last September.

Of course, by the middle of the game you were lucky if a Dodgers player even had his name across the back of his jersey. The Dodgers’ runs were driven in by Tim Federowicz and minor league infielder Luis Nunez, who had two.

Then they closed it down, looked toward San Diego and dreamed of fresh starts.

RELATED:

Dodgers win, 4-1, but Matt Kemp is struggling

Sorry, Dodgers, in the NL West there actually is a real favoriteDodgers’ final roster winners: Justin Sellers and Josh Lindblom

Dodgers can’t find a proper spring finale, fall to Angels, 8-3