The Los Angeles Dodgers were coming off a rare off day on Thursday night when they hosted the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Camelback Ranch, but their bats stayed hot as they launched four solo home runs and hung on for a 4-3 victory.
The first came in the bottom of the second inning, as Yasiel Puig stepped to the plate with one out and took a fastball down the middle to deep left-center field for his first home run of the spring.
Despite the lack of home runs so far, Puig has still swung the bat well. After his 2-for-3 effort against the Angels, he is now 13-for-41 (.317 batting average) with seven extra-base hits.
Kiké Hernandez followed up Puig’s solo home run with one of his own in the bottom of the third, as he launched a 2-0 pitch high and deep down the left-field line.
.@YasielPuig absolutely crushed that. #DodgersST pic.twitter.com/vC3TKiscHo
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 23, 2018
The home run was Hernandez’s fourth of the spring, and ironically they have all come against right-handed pitching. Most of Hernandez’s playing time the last few seasons with the Dodgers has come against left-handers, so that might change this year if he continues to hit righties well.
The third Dodger home run of the night came courtesy of Corey Seager in the bottom of the fifth inning. The solo blast was Seager’s second of the spring as he has begun to swing the bat much better recently after a slow start to the spring.
All the way up! #DodgersST pic.twitter.com/dgzFNNzhDe
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 23, 2018
Then reigning National League Rookie of the Year, Cody Bellinger, got in on the action in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he took a fastball down the middle for a ride to straightaway center, hitting it high off the batter’s eye. Bellinger now has four home runs in Cactus League play.
Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu also had a solid outing, tossing five innings of one-run ball, allowing five hits while striking out six and walking one. Ryu had struggled for most of the spring, so it was nice to see him get back on track as Opening Day inches closer.
Kiss it goodbye, @coreyseager_5. #DodgersST pic.twitter.com/vrckxRneSu
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 23, 2018
