The Los Angeles Dodgers had eight doubles and 14 total hits in their win over the Texas Rangers on Friday, and Max Muncy and Chris Taylor were at the center of it.
The Dodgers scored at least one run in each of the first four innings of the game, beginning with Muncy’s line drive to straightaway center field that scored Mookie Betts after his leadoff double.
Then in the second inning, Edwin Rios went the other way for a leadoff double and he later scored on Zach McKinstry’s extra-base hit. L.A. continued to swing away against Rangers starter Kyle Cody in the third, with Taylor and Rios each hitting an RBI double.
After Muncy singled in the fourth inning, Taylor followed with his second RBI double of the day. The two combined to go 6-for-6 with three doubles, three runs scored and three RBI. For as well as the Dodgers swung the bat as a team, it did not include Corey Seager. He went 0-for-3 and had an eight-game hitting streak in Cactus League play snapped.
The early run support was more than enough for Julio Urias, who scattered two hits and struck out three over four innings in what was his fourth and longest start of the spring. Jimmy Nelson pitched two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, and though Kenley Jansen and Blake Treinen each surrendered a solo home run, they had encouraging appearances as well.
Mookie not injured
In addition to Seager going hitless in three at-bats, the day saw another an oddity as Betts was removed in the top of the third inning. “[Thursday] was a big day, he was on the bases a lot running around,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained.
“[Friday] was the hottest day we’ve had, so for him to take two at-bats, I felt that was good. He’s in a good place with his mechanics. Just wanted to get him off his feet.”
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