Matt Kemp is out of his walking boot - MLB

Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said earlier this month that Matt Kemp is unlikely to be 100 percent healthy at the start of spring training, but the rehabbing outfielder should be cleared to participate in the club’s season-opening series against the Diamondbacks in Australia. That two-game set, scheduled for late March, will take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which holds 46,000 fans.

Kemp had been in a protective walking boot since undergoing ankle surgery in October but Colletti told Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times that he shed the boot 10 days ago and is working slowly but surely toward restarting baseball activities. Kemp also had surgery on his left shoulder in October.

The Dodgers shopped Kemp this offseason but probably didn’t like any of the offers sent their way. Kemp is not only recovering from two major surgeries but also batted just .270/.328/.395 in 73 games in 2013.

If his health cooperates, Kemp will serve as Los Angeles’ primary center fielder in 2014.

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HOUSTON – Yordan Alvarez hit a go-ahead three-run double in the seventh inning, and the Houston Astros rallied past the Chicago White Sox 6-3 on Friday night for their first win of the season.

Kyle Tucker hit a two-run homer in the sixth and made a spectacular catch at the wall in the seventh to rob Andrew Benintendi of extra bases and keep the World Series champion Astros within one run.

Eloy Jimenez hit two RBI doubles for the White Sox, both off Astros starter Cristian Javier.

Jimenez’s first double scored Tim Anderson in the first inning. In the sixth, Javier gave up three straight doubles to Benintendi, Jimenez and Joan Moncada to make it 3-0 and end his night.

White Sox reliever Kendall Graveman (0-1) loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh on two walks and a single. Jake Diekman came on and gave up Alvarez’s double to deep left-center, a drive that just eluded Luis Robert Jr. and bounced off the wall, clearing the bases.

Four Astros relievers each worked one scoreless inning. Seth Martinez (1-0) got the win and Rafael Montero handled the ninth for his first save.

Chicago starter Lance Lynn allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings.

ALL IN A DAY’S REST

White Sox INF Andrew Vaughn, who hit a go-ahead two-run double in Thursday’s season-opening win, did not play. Vaughn experienced lower back issues during spring training. Gavin Sheets started at first base.

HOMETOWN HIT

Astros outfielder Corey Yulks, a Houston-area native, singled in his first at-bat and finished 1-for-4 in his major league debut.

PUT A RING ON IT

Astros owner Jim Crane and his wife, Whitney, presented the team and staff with their 2022 World Series rings in a pregame ceremony.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: LHP Blake Taylor, who is on the 15-day injured list with a left elbow strain, began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land.

UP NEXT

The four-game season-opening series continues Saturday when Houston’s Jose Urquidy faces Chicago’s Lucas Giolito.