The Los Angeles Dodgers received contributions from Michael Busch, Jimmy Nelson, Chris Taylor and Justin Turner, among others, in a 5-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark. Tuesday’s game marked just the second time this year the Dodgers played nine innings.
It also was the final Cactus League meeting between the teams this year. They previously played to a tie at Camelback Ranch when the Reds scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning.
The Dodgers were frustrated with a low strike zone as Vladimir Gutierrez struck out the side in the first inning en route to two scoreless frames. His exit wound up paying off for L.A., beginning with Omar Estevez’s leadoff single in the third.
Taylor followed with an opposite-field home run to break up the scoreless tie. After Max Muncy walked and Turner doubled, Will Smith and Gavin Lux added to the lead with an RBI single each. For Lux it was another positive development in what’s been an encouraging spring.
“Getting some results early on is always good,” he said. “It helps you kind of just relax and be a little more comfortable. But like I said, it’s not the most important thing right now. Just getting out there and getting at-bats.”
The Dodgers then went quite offensively until Michael Busch hit a leadoff home run in the ninth inning to provide insurance.
Dodgers pitching collectively shines
Jimmy Nelson built off an impressive debut with an even better second start. He needed all of 20 pitches to get through two scoreless innings, picking up three strikeouts in the process.
Corey Knebel worked around a double in the third inning and Scott Alexander kept the shutout intact during the fourth. Josiah Gray allowed a solo home run in the fifth but otherwise fared well in his two innings of work.
Ryan Pepiot allowed two runs in the seventh, and Alex Vesia and Landon Knack contributed a scoreless inning each. Vesia had some fortune on his side as a dropped ball at first base on a double play allowed the tying run to score. However, interference was called at second base and the Dodgers were awarded the inning-ending double play after all.
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