The Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to avoid starting Spring Training with consecutive losses, with Hunter Feduccia powering them to a 9-4 comeback win against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch.
Robbie Erlin got through a scoreless first inning but Shelby Miller couldn’t follow suit in what was his Dodgers debut. Miller gave up a leadoff double followed by a base hit, which wound up leading to a three-run inning for the Cubs. Miller was removed after getting just two outs.
David Bote’s RBI double extended the Cubs’ lead to 4-0 in the sixth inning.
The Dodgers cut into their deficit in the bottom of the sixth thanks to RBI singles by Chris Taylor and Drew Avans. L.A. then pulled ahead in the seventh inning behind Feduccia’s opposite-field three-run home run.
The Dodgers rally started with Diego Cartaya working his way back from a 1-2 count to draw a walk. Yonny Hernández, who entered as a pinch-runner for Miguel Rojas when he exited because of a right foot cramp, singled before Feduccia hit the Dodgers’ second homer of the spring.
Prior to Feduccia’s blast, the Dodgers received scoreless innings from Alex Vesia and Brusdar Graterol. Both relief pitchers allowed one baserunner and collected two strikeouts.
Hernández’s RBI groundout with the bases loaded in the eighth inning provided the Dodgers with some insurance, and Feduccia added to his big day with a two-run double.
Freddie Freeman and David Peralta made back-to-back starts as they continue preparing for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Freeman went 0-for-2 and Peralta was held hitless in two at-bats as well.
Dodgers violate new rules
Manager Dave Roberts and the Dodgers collectively came away with a positive opinion of the new MLB rules after their first Spring Training game, and they largely avoided violating them.
However, that changed Sunday, as Shelby Miller and Chris Taylor both failed to adhere to the pitch timer. Miller didn’t get into his delivery within the allotted time, and Taylor was not ready in the batter’s box by the required eight-second mark.
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