GIANTS 6, DODGERS 2
at Phoenix
Wednesday, March 31

Giants at the plate: Eugenio Velez went 3-for-4, including a triple. Juan Uribe homered. Brandon Crawford doubled and Pablo Sandoval had an RBI single in a three-run third inning.

Dodgers at the plate: John Lindsey slugged a two-run homer one out after a walk by Russell Martin. The first three Dodgers batters in the game struck out and at one point 10 consecutive batters were retired. Ronnie Belliard had a pair of hits.

Giants on the mound: Left-hander Horacio Ramirez struck out six while pitching out of a three-hit jam in one of three scoreless innings. Henry Sosa continued to pitch well with a pair of scoreless innings. Sosa has pitched 11 1/3 scoreless innings this spring. Denny Bautista allowed two runs in one inning. Alex Hinshaw got a double-play grounder to bail Bautista out of a jam in the seventh.

Dodgers on the mound: Opening Day starter Vicente Padilla allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits in three innings with two strikeouts and no walks. Fifth starter candidate Russ Ortiz allowed a home run to the first batter he faced, the only run he allowed in three innings. John Ely, acquired in the Juan Pierre trade, allowed a run on a double-steal, but also struck out the side.

Worth noting: After a week of Minor League games, Martin made his first Cactus League appearance since suffering a pulled groin muscle March 5 and went 0-for-2 with a strikeout and walk. He caught six innings and said he felt fine. Rafael Furcal made a fielding error (fifth of the spring) that led to a pair of unearned runs in the third inning.

Cactus League records: Giants 21-10; Dodgers 11-13-2.

Up next: After playing split-squad games in Arizona and Nevada on Wednesday, the Dodgers on Thursday night reconvene in California, hosting the Indians at Dodger Stadium. Charlie Haeger, leading candidate for the fifth starter spot, might be able to lock it down with a strong effort. He's likely to be followed to the mound by Jonathan Broxton and George Sherrill, the latter making his first appearance in almost a week while working on mechanical issues. The Dodgers still need to announce their final roster moves, including the expected declaration that Blake DeWitt will be the primary second baseman. Manager Joe Torre said he will make that decision once the club returns to California.

The Giants are out of Arizona but not out of exhibition games -- they launch a full final weekend Thursday night by hosting the A's in the opener of the three-game Bay Bridge Series, with Barry Zito set to match up against Justin Duchscherer at AT&T Park at 7:15 p.m. PT. Following another AT&T Park game Friday night and a Saturday matinee in Oakland, the Giants will be back home for a Sunday meeting with the Mariners. The Giants still have a crack at their most exhibition wins in 46 years, since a 25-8 slate in 1964.