The Los Angeles Dodgers bounced back from their first loss of Spring Training with a 7-5 win over the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium. The matchup marked the first time this year the Dodgers played an entire nine-inning game.
It was started by Clayton Kershaw, who turned in an encouraging 2021 debut. Kershaw allowed a pair of doubles but also struck out two over two scoreless innings. He threw just 22 pitches and did more work in the bullpen after being removed.
“I thought it was good. He was efficient and got his work in. I think the fastball was good, the command was good, he mixed in a couple breaking balls, a couple sliders. Very positive today,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Kershaw’s outing.
He exited with a 1-0 lead that came as a result of Chris Taylor hitting a double and Gavin Lux following with an RBI infield single. Kansas City tied the game in the bottom of the third and pulled ahead in the fourth inning.
The first #KershawDay of 2021. pic.twitter.com/ZIvtunw3o4
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 5, 2021
That changed in the fifth when Taylor hit a grand slam to give the Dodgers a decided lead. Taylor finished 2-for-3 in what was just his second Cactus League game due to initially being slowed by a stiff neck.
“He’s just very resilient,” Roberts said. To see him take at-bats, move around the diamond, heck of a player.”
Flip the script. pic.twitter.com/CBBOn3ksTM
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) March 5, 2021
Omar Estevez’s sacrifice fly extended the Dodgers’ lead in the seventh inning, and Kody Hoese created more separation with a leadoff home run in the eighth.
Kody Hoese 💣 pic.twitter.com/ktt94yJRt7
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) March 5, 2021
Next for Dodgers
The Dodgers return to Camelback Ranch on Saturday for a matchup with the San Diego Padres. It’s their first of two meetings this spring. Trevor Bauer and Chris Paddack are the pitching probables for what’s expected to be a seven-inning game.
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