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Dodgers, D'backs wrap up season-opening set in Australia

Mar 22, 2014 - 3:08 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Hyun-Jin Ryu tries to follow up a terrific rookie season when he takes the ball on Saturday, as the Los Angeles Dodgers conclude their two-game season-opening series versus the Arizona Diamondbacks at Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia.

Signed to a six-year, $36 million contract prior to the 2013 season, the Korean left-hander led all qualified NL rookies with 192 innings pitched, ranked second in wins (14), third in ERA (3.00) and fourth in strikeouts (154).

He also tossed seven scoreless innings for the Dodgers in Game 3 of the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Ryu, who gave up four runs over 16 1/3 innings this spring, struggled a bit against the D'backs last season, though, going just 1-2 with a 4.65 ERA in five starts.

Arizona, meanwhile, will counter with righty Trevor Cahill, who has dominated the Dodgers over the course of his career, posting a perfect 6-0 record to go along with a 2.01 ERA in 10 starts.

Cahill, though, was just 8-10 last season for the Diamondbacks, while pitching to a 3.99 ERA. An 18-game winner for Oakland back in 2010, Cahill has struggled to regain that form and was not impressive this spring, as he managed a 7.88 ERA over four starts.

The Diamondbacks, of course, are counting on Cahill even more now, given that ace Patrick Corbin is likely done for the season with a torn ulnar collateral ligament.

Los Angeles got its season started on the right foot earlier on Saturday, as Clayton Kershaw gave up just one run over 6 2/3 innings and Scott Van Slyke smacked a two-run home run in the Dodgers' 3-1 win.

Kershaw, the NL's reigning Cy Young Award winner, scattered five hits and struck out seven in his fourth consecutive Opening Day start for the Dodgers, who rewarded their ace with a seven-year, $215 million extension this offseason.

Kenley Jansen recorded the final three outs to earn the save.

Paul Goldschmidt had two hits in the setback for the Diamondbacks.

Wade Miley, thrust into the Opening Day start for Arizona due to the likely season-ending elbow injury to Corbin, absorbed the loss, surrendering three runs and three hits in five innings, but did strike out eight batters.

After returning to the states for a series of exhibition games, the Dodgers will resume their regular season on Sunday, March 30 against San Diego. Arizona, meanwhile, will play five Cactus League games before starting a four- game series versus the San Francisco Giants on March 31.

This series actually commemorates the 100th anniversary of an exhibition game played by the Chicago White Sox and the New York Giants at the Sydney Cricket Ground, won 5-4 by the White Sox before 10,000 fans on Jan. 3, 1914.

Arizona took 10 of its 19 matchups with the Dodgers a year ago.