After four months off due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and a handful of intrasquad scrimmages, the Los Angeles Dodgers finally faced a team wearing a different uniform on Sunday night, hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks in an exhibition game.
The Dodgers are the favorites to win the National League West for the eighth consecutive season, and they showed why in their first exhibition game, cruising to a 9-2 victory over the Diamondbacks.
While it had been months since the Dodgers played another team, they didn’t treat it with extra importance as pitching prospect Mitchell White got the start on the mound.
White isn’t expected to start at the big league level in 2020, but he’s an additional arm that they want to keep relevant as a depth piece. His outing didn’t get off to the best start, giving up a no-doubt solo home run to Ketel Marte in the top of the first.
The Dodgers responded right away with their high-powered offense, with the reigning National League MVP Cody Bellinger hitting a grand slam with no outs in the bottom of the first. Mookie Betts got things started with a walk before Max Muncy did the same and Justin Turner hit an infield single to load the bases.
L.A. kept their foot on the gas pedal, scoring two runs in the third inning to extend their lead to 6-1. Betts started it once again with a single, followed by a double by Muncy and sacrifice fly by Turner. Bellinger capped off the rally once again with an RBI single to right.
Corey Seager then got in on the action in the fifth, continuing his hot summer by hitting an opposite-field RBI double to extend the lead to 7-1.
White settled in on the mound after the first-inning home run he gave up. He retired 14 straight after that to complete five innings of one-run ball.
Adam Kolarek and AJ Ramos combined to toss a scoreless sixth, with Victor Gonzalez following suit in the seventh. Gonzalez gave up a pair of hits and a run in the eighth that trimmed into the Dodgers’ comfortable lead.
If there was a reason for concern, Austin Barnes was removed in the fifth inning after being hit by a pitch in his left hand.
Next for Dodgers
The Dodgers will host the Diamondbacks once more on Monday night before welcoming the L.A. Angels to town for their final exhibition game on Tuesday. From there they will have a day off on Wednesday before opening up the 2020 season against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night.
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