The Los Angeles Dodgers had their first split-squad games of 2023 Spring Training on Saturday, which resulted in losing to the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch but defeating the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium.
In their matchup with the Cubs, the Dodgers lineup only mustered two runs on four hits. They failed to generate any success against Cubs rookie starter Hayden Wesneski, who had four strikeouts over four perfect innings.
Noah Syndergaard turned in an encouraging performance himself. The right-hander didn’t allow a run through four innings but gave up a leadoff home run to Yan Gomes in the fifth.
The Cubs added onto their lead in the inning by hitting back-to-back home runs against Alex Vesia.
Outman gets us on the board!😅 pic.twitter.com/fuciqF6SQe
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) March 11, 2023
The Dodgers cut into their deficit when James Outman went the other way for a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth. That gave Outman two home runs this spring as he continues to push for a spot on the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster.
.@devinmann444 hits a two-run homer to increase the #Dodgers lead in spilt squad action!
pic.twitter.com/lXeHI9naNa— Tulsa Drillers (@TulsaDrillers) March 11, 2023
With the Cubs leading 4-1, Hunter Feduccia hit an RBI single in the eighth inning but the Dodgers never drew any closer. Feduccia has been a key contributor for the Dodgers of late and recently earned praise from manager Dave Roberts.
Shelby Miller strikes out three on three different pitches. pic.twitter.com/73Eo7zZzKn
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 11, 2023
“Hunter is obviously an organizational guy. There’s a baseball IQ in there. There’s care for the pitcher, a good teammate,” Roberts said late last month.
“He controls the strike zone really well and we asked him to try to impact the baseball a little bit more. And he’s done that, got stronger. Looks good physically.”
Over in Scottsdale, the Dodgers used four home runs to come from behind against the Giants.
.@hunter_feduccia picks up his eighth RBI in just his tenth at-bat!
pic.twitter.com/C5Om1eLy0R— Tulsa Drillers (@TulsaDrillers) March 11, 2023
Power was supplied by Luke Williams, Devin Mann, Steven Duggar and Buddy Reed.
Freddie Freeman (three), Mookie Betts (two), Jason Heyward (two), Outman (two) and Williams (two) are the only Dodgers with multiple home runs in Spring Training.
Dodgers in 2023 WBC games
Saturday also was notable for multiple Dodgers who are participating in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
David Peralta had three RBI to lead Team Venezuela to a 5-1 win over the Dominican Republic in Pool D in Miami. Trayce Thompson hit a home run for Great Britain in their 6-2 loss to Team USA in Pool C play, and Julio Urías was enjoying a dominant start at Chase Field before being knocked around by Colombia.
Urías was perfect through four innings but allowed three runs in the fifth.
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