AT THE PLATE: With all of the regulars taking the day off, the Dodgers got to take a look at some players who might be on their bench. Tony Gwynn Jr. had a hit and scored a run, and his fifth-inning replacement in right field, Jamie Hoffmann, was two for two with a double and a run batted in.

ON THE MOUND: Clayton Kershaw held the White Sox to an unearned run and two hits over three innings. Closer Jonathan Broxton pitched a scoreless inning, as did free-agent addition Matt Guerrier.

EXTRA BASES: The Dodgers made four errors, but Manager Don Mattingly said he wasn’t upset, noting that the mistakes weren’t the results of being out of position.

UP NEXT: Chad Billingsley faces the Cleveland Indians and Carlos Carrasco in Goodyear at noon PST Tuesday.

ON THE AIR: TV: None. Radio: 790 None.

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP)—Clayton Kershaw(notes) started the game with a four-pitch walk to former-Dodger Juan Pierre(notes).

“Next time out, I want to get that first pitch over and go from there,” Kershaw said.

He allowed an unearned run and two hits in three innings, helping Los Angeles beat the Chicago White Sox 6-5 Monday.

Kershaw struck out three and walked one.

“It was OK for the first time out,” Kershaw said. “The fastball comes first. You try to put that in the strike zone. From there, you consistently get the break with the breaking ball. Then from there, get strikes from the breaking ball. It’s usually in that order for me.”

The 22-year-old Kershaw found out last week he had been selected to become the Dodgers’ youngest opening-day starting pitcher since 22-year-old Fernando Valenzuela in 1983.

“It’s an honor, a sign of confidence from your manager,” Kershaw said. “At the same time, you try to keep it in perspective that it’s just one of 162.”

Winner Jonathan Broxton(notes) pitched a hitless, scoreless inning.

White Sox starter Gavin Floyd(notes) faced the minimum six batters in two hitless innings.

“The main thing is Gavin threw the ball very well,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. “It’s spring training. It’s all about the pitching.”

Los Angeles made four errors, including three in the third inning. In addition to Kershaw, catcher Dioner Navarro(notes), second baseman Aaron Miles(notes) and shortstop Justin Sellers had errors.

NOTES: Damaso Espino drove in two runs for the Dodgers, and Donny Lucy(notes) had two RBIs for the White Sox. … Loser Tony Pena Jr.(notes) gave up two runs and three hits in the fourth, and Miguel Socolovich allowed four runs in two-thirds of an inning in the fifth.

Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) – Jamie Hoffmann’s RBI double started a four-run fifth inning as the Dodgers edged the White Sox, 6-5, in Cactus League action.

Damaso Epsino went 1-for-2 with his two RBI single completing the fifth inning while Jonathan Broxton threw a scoreless fourth to record the win.

Clayton Kershaw made his season debut, allowing one unearned run on two hits while striking out three batters in three innings of work.

Pinch-hitter Donny Lucy knocked in two runs with his two-out single in the top of the seventh, however, Luis Sierra then grounded out to end Chicago’s chances of a comeback.

Tony Pena was tagged for two runs on three hits in an inning of work to record the loss.

GAME NOTES:

The Sports Network

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Chicago White Sox pitchers Gavin Floyd and Edwin Jackson tend to fly under the radar when it comes to news about the team’s starting rotation.

Jake Peavy’s health is closely monitored and Mark Buehrle’s recent Michael Vick comments garnered national headlines. Then there’s the non-feud between Buehrle and John Danks, who led the team in all major pitching categories in 2010, over who should be the opening day starter.

Jackson and Floyd don’t mind the lack of attention, but their performances in the middle of the rotation are vital to a team that finished six games behind Minnesota in the American League Central last year.

“My job is to get out every fifth day and give our team the chance to win a game, regardless of whether or not my name is out in the media,” Jackson said. “And that’s what I do.”

Floyd finished 2010 with a 10-13 record and a 4.08 earned run average. He started with a 6.64 ERA and two wins in his first 11 starts, then put together a 1.19 ERA over his next 12 starts. He was shut down for the final two weeks of the season of shoulder tightness, the effects of which he said have completely disappeared.

Pleased with his perseverance last year, Floyd hopes to achieve success a little earlier time around.

“You always say you want to get off to a good start but a lot of things in baseball are out of your control,” he said. “It’s a test of a guy’s character, so you just work your butt off and try to do your best.”

Like Floyd, Jackson’s year was a tale of two seasons. Despite a no-hitter on June 25 at Tampa Bay, he only managed a 6-10 record and a 5.16 ERA with Arizona.

He was acquired from the Diamondbacks at the trading deadline last year, filling a vacant spot in the rotation after Peavy underwent season-ending surgery.

Jackson allowed just three runs in his first four starts and finished with a 4-2 record and 3.24 ERA.

“That’s the game,” Jackson said of his midseason turnaround. “I could have come in here and done just as bad. It’s just one of those things in baseball. Sometimes change brings better outcomes in people.”

Jackson said he is excited about the talent surrounding him.

“Do better than last year” is Jackson’s main personal goal for this season.

“Work on my consistency,” he added. “And get my 200 innings. I always at least shoot for 200 innings.”

Selig hires Torre as MLB executive

Joe Torre has been hired as Major League Baseball’s executive vice president of baseball operations, a person with knowledge of the appointment said.

The 70-year-old Torre won four World Series titles for the Yankees in a 29-year career as a manager, retiring after last season following three years with the Dodgers. He played 18 seasons in the majors.

He likely will help Selig in a variety of roles. MLB lost chief operating officer Bob DuPuy last fall after he spent 8 1/2 years as the commissioner’s top aide.

Yanks to honor Steinbrenner

Today’s game between the Yankees and Phillies will be New York’s first spring game since team owner George Steinbrenner died in July at the age of 80.

Steinbrenner will be honored during a ceremony at George Steinbrenner Field that will include his wife, Joan, being escorted by the couple’s two daughters. Steinbrenner’s granddaughter will perform the national anthem.

Around the league

Third baseman Mark Teahen has abruptly left the White Sox’s spring training camp to tend to a health issue involving a family member. … Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre (calf) will miss at least the first week of spring training games, . … Los Angeles Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher said he is cancer free. He was diagnosed with thyroid cancer six weeks ago.

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Chicago White Sox reliever Will Ohman has a unique definition of what a bullpen is.

“Bullpen … usually comprised of six to seven players who are failed starters. They usually sit beyond the left or right field fence, not good enough to sit in the dugout. They call us in during extreme situations with no chance for glory.”

With that in mind, Ohman thinks the White Sox bullpen for 2011 is looking pretty good.

“We’ve got a bunch of guys who are really bad at starting, so they’re really good at bullpen-ing,” he joked.

This is what people can expect from Ohman, who started his career with the Cubs. He and Jesse Crain are the two additions to a revamped bullpen that lost Scott Linebrink, J.J. Putz and closer Bobby Jenks in the offseason.

Ohman appeared in a combined 68 games for Florida and Baltimore in 2010, striking out over a batter per inning. Crain, who spent the first seven years of his career with the division-rival Twins, made 71 appearances with a 3.04 ERA last year.

He doesn’t anticipate any problems making the switch to the White Sox, with the fans in particular.

“Obviously, it goes better, smoother, if you start off the right way,” he said. “But you cheer for your team, no matter where they come from. I’m part of this team. I’m not part of the Twins.”

Crain and Ohman join Matt Thornton and Tony Pena as the veterans beyond the outfield walls at U.S. Cellular Field, teaming up with young flamethrowers Chris Sale and Sergio Santos to form a committee that hopes to shorten games considerably for a starting rotation which already has a lot of pressure on it with Jake Peavy’s status up in the air.

Thornton is the frontrunner to close games this season, though manager Ozzie Guillen has not made his decision yet. Thornton filled in for Jenks from time to time last season, recording eight saves. He posted a 2.67 ERA in 61 appearances and had a career-best 12 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.

The trio of Thornton, Sale and Ohman, all southpaws who dial it up to the high-90s, will give the White Sox flexibility when troublesome left-handed hitters come up in late innings.

“There’s always enough work for everyone. We have a lot of really tough lefties in our division,” Thornton said, likely referring to the Twins’ duo of Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer.

“You’re going to be fighting for innings sometimes, but others you’re going to be begging for a day off.”

Guillen has been vague about the closer role throughout spring training, mentioning having to close each inning individually and using his best pitchers when they’re needed most.

Thornton isn’t a fan of the idea of a rotation bullpen, but doesn’t expect the closer role will be a merry-go-round.

“We’ve talked and everyone agrees that having one ninth-inning guy is the way we should go,” he said. “I think you need to name a closer until you decide to go with someone else. When you look around baseball, bullpens just work better that way.”

Regardless of who gets Guillen’s blessing to handle the ninth inning, the White Sox feel they have one of the best bullpens in the game.

“Having that kind of group out there is a huge improvement,” Thornton said. “There’s some experience you lose out on, but you get some new guys who have a major fire and desire to be after it.”