The Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers met for a second time in as many days Friday night, this time with Goodyear Ballpark serving as the backdrop.
The quirk in the schedule gave the Dodgers another look at Yasiel Puig, along with other former players of the organization, Kyle Farmer and Matt Kemp. The Reds also have Jose Peraza, who put the Dodgers in a deficit with an RBI single in the fourth inning.
Peraza’s base hit scored Puig after he hit a ringing double with two outs. Puig finished 1-for-2 with one run scored. Meanwhile, L.A. was held to just one hit entering the eighth inning.
While Julio Urias turned in another impressive outing, Tanner Roark bested it by striking out eight and allowing just one hit over five scoreless innings.
Ezequiel Carrera’s bunt single to lead off the eighth inning was the team’s first hit since Brad Miller’s leadoff single in the second. It wound up leading to the Dodgers taking a lead as Alex Verdugo lined a two-run single into right field with the bases loaded.
Better late than never.
Alex got that eight-run rally started in the eighth. pic.twitter.com/T0EI9Porv8
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 16, 2019
As the rally continued and the Dodgers again loaded the bases, Paulo Orlando put a punctuation on the eight-run inning and comeback win by hitting a grand slam well past the fence in left field.
Paulo Orlando with the LOUD grand slam. pic.twitter.com/Jm8Yyrb9Xa
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 16, 2019
The home run was Orlando’s first this spring. Meanwhile, Verdugo’s single was his ninth hit (second on the team) and his sixth RBI (fourth-highest). Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently praised Verdugo and indicated the young outfielder was likely to make the Opening Day roster.
