Last spring start rough for Josh Beckett in Dodgers’ 9-8 win

That looked a lot like the type of game the Dodgers might expect to play against the Angels, the two teams combining for 15 runs Friday after a mere 3 1/2 innings.

Not that it did much for Dodgers right-hander Josh Beckett, who was pushed around for seven runs on nine hits in four innings. That completed Beckett’s spring with a not-so-comforting 7.79 ERA.

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By the time both teams had finished stepping over the sawdust, around the fresh paint and through the construction workers rushing to complete their $100-million Dodger Stadium makeover, the Dodgers had hung on for a 9-8 victory.

The new, high-def scoreboards were impressive, which is more than the Dodgers could say for Beckett.

Beckett did not walk a batter and struck out five, but was victimized by several two-strike hits.

“Health is not an issue at all,” Beckett said. “I felt great. The flu stuff is all gone. I’d just get two strikes on somebody ... and I just couldn’t put anybody away.”

The Dodgers staked Beckett to a 5-1 lead in the first inning behind an A.J. Ellis grand slam, and then chased poor Jason Vargas (eight runs in 1 2/3 innings) with three more in the second, two coming off a Luis Cruz double.

But the Angels scored one in the first, two in the second, one more in third and then pulled within one on a Mike Trout three-run homer. Beckett said he thinks it was the first time he faced Trout.

“I felt good out there today, the results were just bad,” Beckett said.

“You want to be able to do the whole thing by now. Years that I’ve been good, I’ve felt like I’ve got off to a good start and built some confidence in April. In years I’ve fallen behind, whether it’s health or results, it’s been a struggle trying to catch back up.”

Carl Crawford, playing his first game as a Dodger at Dodger Stadium, continued to offer encouragement. He went 2 for 4 to raise his spring average to .370.

Not looking too encouraging was closer Brandon League, who gave up a run on two hits and a walk in the ninth.

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