The Los Angeles Dodgers may have won the 2020 World Series, but that is now in the past since they have reported to Camelback Ranch for Spring Training.
The Dodgers kicked off their Cactus League schedule on Sunday afternoon and picked up right where they left off last season, defeating the Oakland Athletics, 2-1.
Runs were at a premium during the seven-inning game at Hohokam Stadium, but Corey Seager got the scoring started for the Dodgers in the third inning. The 2020 World Series MVP showed that he can get out of bed and hit, driving a base hit into center field to score Zach McKinstry, who singled to lead off the inning.
Seager went 1-for-2 in the game as he only played a few innings, as was the case with most of the Dodgers’ lineup.
The only other run L.A. scored in the contest was a game-winning homer off the bat of Matt Davidson in the seventh inning. Davidson is a non-roster invitee who is trying to crack the roster as a two-way player.
He certainly made the most of his first impression, cracking a solo shot to left on a high fastball to break a 1-1 tie and secure a victory for the Dodgers.
Roberts impressed with Dodgers pitching staff
While Seager and Davidson made headlines by driving in runs, it really was the Dodgers’ pitching staff that won them the game as they combined to allow just two hits and an unearned run in seven innings.
Non-roster invitee Mike Kickham got the start and went two shutout innings, followed by Edwin Uceta, Dennis Santana, Garrett Cleavinger, Andre Jackson and Michael Grove.
“I thought they were good,” Roberts said of the collective effort. “I thought Mike Kickham started off well, filling up the strike zone. I thought the guys all threw really well. I thought Santana was really good, I thought Grove at the end, Andre Jackson was good.
“Cleavinger got into some trouble, pitch count got up there, but once Mark Prior had that mound visit, settled him down a little bit and then he was making quality pitches after that. Really good showing for the pitchers.”
Some of the Dodgers’ main pitchers will be making their respective Cactus League debuts this upcoming week with Trevor Bauer scheduled to start Monday followed by Walker Buehler on Tuesday.
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