Dodgers power past Royals, 6-4

Dodgers 6, Kansas City 4
AT THE PLATE:
Andre Ethier
hit his second home run in two days, launching a three-run homer to center field in the third inning.
Casey Blake
didn’t show any ill effects of the strained rib-cage muscle that sidelined him for a couple of days, belting a two-run homer in the fifth.
ON THE MOUND:
James McDonald
, a candidate to be the fifth starter, had another rough outing, giving up three runs and three hits in two innings. Non-roster player
Russ Ortiz
pitched three scoreless innings, keeping his spring-training earned-run average at 0.00.
EXTRA BASES:
Citing pain in his right knee, non-roster outfielder
Brian Giles
announced his retirement in the morning. Giles, 39, batted .291 with 287 home runs and 1,078 runs batted in over his 15-year career.
UP NEXT:
Left-hander
Clayton Kershaw
is scheduled to start Friday’s split-squad game (noon PST) against the Reds at Camelback Ranch. Left-hander
Eric Stults
is to start the game (2:30 a.m. PST) in Taiwan against an all-star team from the Chinese Professional Baseball League.
ON THE AIR:
TV: Prime Ticket (game against Reds).
— Dylan Hernandez