With just four Cactus League games remaining, the Los Angeles Dodgers faced their division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks and came away with a blowout 12-1 victory. They are now 11-3-2 in Spring Training this year.
The Dodgers did most of their scoring in the 1st inning, which was started by a Freddie Freeman home run after a single from Mookie Betts. Will Smith and Teoscar Hernández singled, and that was followed by a walk from James Outman.
With the bases loaded Chris Taylor blasted a home run to left field, putting the Dodgers up 6-0. It was Taylor’s first homer of Cactus League play this year.
That wasn’t all for the Dodgers as Gavin Lux and Betts singled, and a passed ball allowed another run to score.
Betts once again singled in the fourth inning, and he came around to score on a triple from Smith, giving L.A. an 8-0 lead.
The Diamondbacks scored their run in the fifth inning, but the Dodgers got it back in the bottom half of the inning. Hernández started it with a single and advanced to third on two wild pitches before Taylor drove him in with a single for his fifth RBI of the game.
The Dodgers continued to add on in the sixth inning when Austin Barnes walked and Shohei Ohtani followed with a double. Freeman then got halfway to the cycle by tripling home Ohtani to give the Dodgers their 11th run.
In the eighth inning, Chris Owings worked a walk, advanced to second on a balk, and then took third on a wild pitch. Drew Avans then singled him home for the 12th run of the day.
There are now just three Cactus League games remaining for the Dodgers before they head out to Seoul, South Korea for two more exhibition games and the opening series against the San Diego Padres.
Gavin Stone sharp for Dodgers
While making his push for the fifth starter spot in the rotation, Gavin Stone once again had a strong outing. The right-hander threw four shutout innings, giving up just two hits and no walks while also adding five strikeouts.
His ERA in Cactus League play sits at 0.93, and at this point it would be surprising if he’s not on the roster to open the season.
Stone was followed by Dinelson Lamet, Kevin Gowdy, Juan Morillo, Nabil Crismatt and John Rooney. All but Lamet worked a scoreless inning.
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