The Los Angeles Dodgers were already on their way to completing a Cactus League sweep of the Cleveland Guardians when they exploded for a huge ninth inning in a 12-1 win at Goodyear Ballpark.
AJ Pollock provided Julio Urias with a lead by hitting a solo home run in the first inning. The homer was Pollock’s second of Spring Training, and they represent his only hits thus far.
Max Muncy provided some breathing room with an RBI double in the fourth inning, and Cody Bellinger caught a break when his blooper to shallow left field dropped for a base hit that plated a run.
That wound up being a common theme as the Guardians had trouble in the field. They did manage to turn a double play in the fourth inning, though that drove in a run.
Quick work from AJ. pic.twitter.com/CwXSSYrOH0
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 31, 2022
Belli's shallow fly drops in for an RBI-single! #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/aRf4QhQc0r
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) March 31, 2022
Grand slam against the Guardians? Can’t help but marvel at that. pic.twitter.com/iMx5NzK5FH
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 31, 2022
L.A. led 4-1 when the top of the ninth began and benefitted from the Guardians’ shaky pitching and sloppy defense. A leadoff infield single was followed by consecutive walks to load the bases, and Kevin Pillar drove a run in when Cleveland couldn’t make a play on his chopper.
Michel Busch was hit by a pitch to bring in another run, and Eddy Alvarez followed that by connecting for the Dodgers’ second grand slam of Spring Training. Two more runs later scored on another hit by a pitch and dropped pop-up that was deemed an out under the infield fly rule.
Dodgers pitching shines
Julio Urias got the Dodgers pitching staff started on the right foot by firing four scoreless innings. He allowed just two hits and kept the Guardians off balance behind a steady dose of offspeed pitches. Urias retired the final nine batters faced.
David Price was impressive in his 2022 Spring Training debut as he recorded two strikeouts in a perfect inning out of the bullpen.
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