The Los Angeles Dodgers fell into an early deficit, but true to what many are anticipating this season, their vaunted lineup responded in a 12-1 comeback win over the Arizona Diamondbacks to complete a sweep.
The power display began in the bottom of the second inning, when Corey Seager hit a leadoff double and two batters later Joc Pederson put the Dodgers ahead with a home run to straightaway center field.
A walk by Chris Taylor and single from Will Smith set the table for Mookie Betts, who lined a fastball at the knees out to center field for his first official home run with the Dodgers. Betts failed to leave the yard during Spring Training and until Monday night had only done so during intrasquad play.
With the five-run inning pushing them ahead, the Dodgers then broke the game open with a six-run fifth. L.A. loaded the bases with one out, which led to three consecutive hits. It started with an RBI single by AJ Pollock and that was followed by a two-run double from Pederson.
Chris Taylor punctuated the flurry with a three-run home run. That was more than enough for Julio Urias and a stable of Dodgers relief pitchers.
After giving up a solo home run in the second inning, Julio Urias kept the Diamondbacks off the board as he got through five in a final tuneup before the regular season. That’s not to say there wasn’t traffic, however, as he pitched around four hits and one walk.
“I felt really good about the fact I could get out of those jams,” Urias said during his postgame interview. “I really liked the outcome and what I was doing after the guys were getting on base.”
Keibert Ruiz in Dodgers camp
With Summer Camp winding to a close, the lone member of the Dodgers’ 40-man roster who had not yet reported was top prospect Keibert Ruiz. His presence was announced with a pinch-hit appearance in the seventh inning.
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