Dylan Hernandez

Kansas City 8, Dodgers 4 AT THE PLATE: Manny Ramirez hit his second homer of the spring, sending a fourth-inning pitch by Zack Greinke over the left-field wall. Blake DeWitt was two for three with a double, a run and a run batted in to raise his spring average to .372. ON THE MOUND: Jonathan Broxton and George Sherrill pitched on consecutive days for the first time this spring. Broxton tossed a scoreless inning, but Sherrill lasted only two-thirds of an inning, as he gave up a hit and walked two. EXTRA BASES: Rafael Furcal was charged with his fourth error of the spring in the fourth inning.

Dodgers 3, Oakland 3 AT THE PLATE: Manny Ramirez (0 for 2), Matt Kemp (one for two), Andre Ethier (0 for 2), Casey Blake (one for two, one run) and Rafael Furcal (0 for 2) were pulled in the bottom of the fourth inning of this night game. ON THE MOUND: Hiroki Kuroda had his best start of the spring, limiting the A's to a hit and two walks over 51/3 innings. He said he was pleased with how he was able to record eight ground-ball outs. EXTRA BASES: Manager Joe Torre said he would announce the Dodgers' opening-day starter Thursday.

Dodgers 4, Arizona 4 AT THE PLATE: Receiving an extra at-bat as a result over confusion over the Dodgers' batting order, Andre Ethier hit his first home run of the spring. Matt Kemp drove in a run on a sixth-inning triple. Catcher A.J. Ellis , who will probably replace the injured Russell Martin on the opening day roster, was two for four. ON THE MOUND: Vicente Padilla gave up four hits and one run over three innings. Ramon Ortiz strengthened his bid to be the fifth starter by limiting the Diamondbacks to one hit over three shutout innings.

Upon signing reserve outfielder Reed Johnson to a one-year contract Monday, General Manager Ned Colletti said the Dodgers were pretty much done shopping this off-season. Johnson, 33, will receive a base salary of $800,000 and can earn an additional $250,000 in incentive bonuses based on games played and plate appearances. The Dodgers' 40-man roster is now full. A .282 hitter over seven major league seasons, Johnson has played all three outfield positions and will replace the departed Juan Pierre as the Dodgers' fourth outfielder.

I'm sorry, I really am, and that doesn't even begin to make amends for what I'm about to do to you. You deserve better, and it's too bad USC and UCLA have crummy basketball teams -- nothing to write there. The Lakers are off, the Clippers are away and Super Bowl media day is best covered by the media that is there. I had planned on better, a treat really for each and every one of you because Frank McCourt is talking again, making that announcement for some reason while I was on vacation.

The Dodgers will continue searching for starting pitchers after talks with the Cincinnati Reds about a deal for Aaron Harang reached an impasse. "That's all but dead," General Manager Ned Colletti said of the talks, first reported on Thursday. On the day the Dodgers officially announced their signing of Jamey Carroll to a two-year deal, Colletti wouldn't rule out adding another second baseman. But, he said, "I would rather use any money we have on pitching, if we can."

The Dodgers signed utilityman Doug Mientkiewicz and shortstop Angel Berroa to minor-league contracts that include invitations to major league spring training. First baseman John Lindsey , outfielder Prentice Redman , and pitchers Francisco Felix , Juan Perez and Josh Towers also were signed to similar deals. Mientkiewicz made the Dodgers' opening-day roster as a non-roster player this year, only to dislocate a shoulder two weeks into the season. Initially told by doctors that he would be out the remainder of the year, Mientkiewicz returned in time to play 13 games in the final month of the season.

Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp won his first Gold Glove on Wednesday but was already looking ahead to his next. "People's expectations -- I'm supposed to win a Gold Glove every year," Kemp said. "I have to be better next year." So, like second baseman Orlando Hudson, the other Dodger who was awarded a Gold Glove, Kemp has already started working out to prepare himself for next season. "No time to rest, man," said Kemp, who was third in the majors with 14 assists in his first season as the Dodgers' primary center fielder.