The Los Angeles Dodgers’ first day off in their 2017 Cactus League schedule suited the team well, as they returned to action Friday with a blowout victory over the Texas Rangers. The evening matchup was the Dodgers’ second of the spring.
Brandon McCarthy and Julio Urias combined for five shutout innings with six strikeouts. The start was McCarthy’s second this year, while Urias entered out of the bullpen for the first time after making a pair of starts.
The Dodgers hit Cole Hamels hard in his 2017 debut, chasing the left-hander after he recorded just one out and allowed four runs in the first inning.
Among the hits Hamels surrendered was a two-run home run to Yasiel Puig. He followed that with another two-run homer the following inning:
.@YasielPuig had a pretty good night tonight.
We think. ? pic.twitter.com/CEUqiSo0Ew
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 11, 2017
Puig finished the night 2-for-2 with four RBI and one walk. The Dodgers combined to hit four home runs in their 12-5 victory.
Through eight games this spring, Puig is batting .286/.348/.810 with two doubles, three home runs, five RBI and two walks. He’s tied with Joc Pederson for the team lead in home runs this spring and ranks second in RBI.
