In their ninth Spring Training game of 2022, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Kansas City Royals, 10-5, behind home runs from Justin Turner, Kevin Pillar, Tomas Telis and Jake Lamb. L.A. is now 2-3-4 in Cactus League play.
Chris Taylor drew a leadoff walk against Royals starter Brady Singer to open the game, and Max Muncy followed with a walk of his own.
The Dodgers then took a 3-0 lead before recording an out when Turner homered to straightaway center field on just the fourth strike Singer threw in his first 15 pitches. Turner finished his night 2-for-2 while adding a single and a walk.
Overall, the Dodgers made it a tough game for Singer as he walked four hitters, including Muncy twice, in 2.1 innings of work while throwing 52 pitches. Muncy also added another walk later in the game, finishing 0-for-1 with a strikeout and three walks.
Andre Jackson took the ball for L.A., looking to improve upon his previous outing where he allowed three runs in two innings.
His night got off to a shaky start as Royals leadoff hitter Whit Merrifield tripled down the right-field line and ended up scoring on a wild pitch to cut the Dodgers’ lead to 3-1. Jackson responded by retiring the heart of the Royals order with a popup, strikeout and groundout.
Jackson continuously allowed baserunners throughout his night, allowing at least one hit in each inning before coming out of the game with 48 pitches in 2.2 innings.
Alex Vesia relieved Jackson and promptly allowed a bases-clearing, two-run double to tie the game. Both runs were charged to Jackson, who allowed three runs on four hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
The Dodgers took the lead back in the sixth inning when Pillar, who was recently signed to a Minor League contract, hit a two-run home run to put L.A. ahead 5-3.
Blake Treinen received an inning of work, coming into the game in the sixth. He allowed a leadoff single and two stolen bases, which ended up resulting in a run on a fly out to make the score 5-4. Treinen added two strikeouts.
The Dodgers added an insurance run on a sacrifice fly by Taylor to drive in Austin Barnes, who reached via a walk and made it to third on a groundout and wild pitch. Tomas Telis broke the game open with a three-run homer in the eighth inning, and Jake Lamb added a solo shot in the ninth.
Lamb had previously singled in the game and is now batting .444 during Spring Training as he looks to make the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster as a bench player.
Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol both had solid appearances out of the bullpen, combining to pitch 2.1 scoreless innings while allowing a hit each .
Bellinger’s Spring Training struggles continue
With four strikeouts in as many plate appearances, Bellinger is now hitting .158 this spring and has 14 strikeouts in 19 at-bats.
While it’s still early with a lot of time for Bellinger to turn it around, it is concerning for a player coming off the worst season of his career.
The 2019 National League MVP struggled to stay on the field due to injuries while he batted .165/.240/.302 with nine doubles, 10 home runs and 36 RBI in 95 games. He overcame a fractured left fibula, hamstring trouble and non-displaced fracture in his left ribs to have a productive postseason, which provided some hope for a 2022 turnaround.
Bellinger hit .353/.436/.471 with one double, one home run and seven RBI in 12 playoff games and recently expressed confidence he would build on that success this spring.
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