Chad Billingsley effective in spring debut

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Chad Billingsley pitched three scoreless innings in his spring debut on Tuesday during a 2-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians at Goodyear Ballpark.

“I was able to get a good tempo, a good rhythm,” Billingsley said.

The Dodgers’ projected No. 2 starter, Billingsley held the Indians to three hits and struck out three.

He said he is continuing to work on developing his changeup, which he started using more effectively in the second half of last season.

Outfielder Jerry Sands, the Dodgers’ 2010 minor league player of the year, hit his first home run of the spring in the seventh inning.

-- Dylan Hernandez in Goodyear, Ariz.