Dodgers Spring Training Highlights: Edwin Rios’ Home Run, Kevin Pillar’s Diving Catch & Drew Avans Grand Slam Vs. A’s
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The Los Angeles Dodgers trailed the Oakland Athletics for most of the game but rallied behind home runs from Edwin Rios and Drew Avans to pick up their third win of 2022 Spring Training.

Tony Gonsolin made his second start of Cactus League play, but overall he was much less effective than his previous outing when he threw three scoreless innings against the Colorado Rockies.

The A’s got on the board in the first inning with a sacrifice fly, then added three more runs in the top of the third to take a 4-0 lead.

Sean Manaea shut the Dodgers down and didn’t face any trouble until the sixth inning. L.A. did have a defensive gem from Kevin Pillar, who made a diving catch to rob Drew Jackson of a likely extra-base hit.

Manaea’s night came to an end after walking Leonel Valera with two outs in the sixth, and Edwin Rios followed with his second homer in as many days. It was his third home run in Spring Training and Rios looks locked into a bench spot on the Dodgers’ roster.

Rios’ homer prevented the Dodgers from being shut out and provided the spark they needed for the comeback.

In the seventh inning, still trailing by two, Will Smith hit a leadoff double off former Dodgers prospect Grant Holmes, who was part of the trade for Rich Hill in 2016. That was followed by Jake Lamb being hit by a pitch and 2017 first-round pick Jeren Kendall hit a chopper that went for an infield single to loaded the bases.

The rally was punctuated by Avans delivering a go-ahead grand slam. The Minor League outfielder celebrated the moment with pure joy as he rounded the bases.

Tyler Anderson and Daniel Hudson combined to finish out the 6-4 win for the Dodgers. Anderson went four innings in his second appearance, both of which have come out of the bullpen. Hudson stranded a walk and base hit in the ninth inning.

Tony Gonsolin likely in Dodgers rotation

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is close to sorting out his rotation to open the season and appears set on Andrew Heaney and Tony Gonsolin filling the final two spots in some order behind Walker Buehler, Julio Urias and Clayton Kershaw.

Gonsolin is entering his fourth season with the Dodgers and is looking to bounce back from an injury-plagued 2021 campaign and establish himself as a key piece of their rotation.

This past offseason the 27-year-old has put an emphasis on improving the strength in his right shoulder and so far is encouraged by the results.

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