The Los Angeles Dodgers dropped their Cactus League game against the Kansas City Royals on Friday night at Camelback Ranch, but there still were plenty of positives to take away from the game.
The Dodgers offense got in the bottom of the first inning, when Max Muncy singled up the middle with two outs. He then came around score on a two-run, opposite field home run off the bat of A.J. Pollock.
Signed to a four-year contract in the offseason, the home run was Pollock’s first with the Dodgers. It came with the 31-year-old batting in the cleanup spot, which was a change from batting leadoff as he’s done for much of the spring thus far.
First one in Dodger blue! pic.twitter.com/VG1PFumGjM
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 9, 2019
Los Angeles then added another run in the bottom of the second inning on a deep home run to right by Joc Pederson. He’s gotten off to a slow start in Cactus League play, entering the game just 1-for-17. Pederson now has two hits, with both of them leaving the yard.
To infinity and beyond. #JocPop pic.twitter.com/6UykWQKvLM
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 9, 2019
Now two weeks into Cactus League play, several regulars are starting to grow more and more comfortable at the plate. In addition to Muncy’s single and Pollock’s and Pederson’s home runs, Justin Turner and Austin Barnes also recorded hits in the loss to the Royals.