Dodgers defeat Seattle Mariners, 8-1, in spring finale

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The Dodgers closed their spring season with a 8-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium with a strong outing by top pitching prospect Rubby De La Rosa and home runs by Corey Smith and Marcus Thames.

Opening day is Thursday, with the Dodgers playing the San Francisco Giants at 5 p.m. at Chavez Ravine. The Dodgers finished the spring with a record of 14-21-1.

De La Rosa, 22, retired the first six Mariners he faced and the right-hander pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings while giving up only two hits and striking out six in front of an announced crowd of 16,732.

Mariners starting pitcher Erik Bedard entered the game with a 3-0 spring record and stingy 1.13 earned-run average, but the Dodgers scored three times against him in the first inning as Andre Ethier doubled home one run and James Loney’s bloop single brought home two more.

Matt Kemp had an RBI single in the third inning, Thames hit a solo home run in the fourth inning and Smith belted a three-run homer in the fifth off Seattle pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen.

--Jim Peltz