On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Dodgers faced the Kansas City Royals a second time in the last five days. The reigning World Series champions won the first meeting, at Camelback Ranch, a game in which Alex Wood returned from left forearm tightness.
Wood was again on the mound to face the Royals, as he looked to build on what he described as an “efficient” outing. After retiring the first too batters faced, the southpaw found himself in trouble in the first inning.
Lorenzo Cain lined a single up the middle, then went first to third base on an Eric Hosmer double to left field. However, rather than take an early lead, the Royals ran themselves out of the inning.
Wood’s first pitch to Kendrys Morales got by A.J. Ellis, but caromed off the brick wall behind home plate. Both runners initially began to advance, though Cain retreated to third base.
He arrived there at the same time as Hosmer, which led to Howie Kendrick chasing down Cain for the third out:
Already trailing 3-1 in the eighth inning, the Dodgers received strong defensive play from Alex Verdugo in center field and Charlie Culberson at second base. Verdugo cut off a Cody Decker double to right-center field, then relayed the ball back in to Culberson, who nailed Reymond Fuentes at the plate:
