Spring Training Recap: Dodgers Beat Padres For Cactus League Sweep

The Los Angeles Dodgers received stellar pitching performances from Noah Syndergaard and Dustin May, and contributions throughout their lineup in an 8-3 in that completed a Cactus League sweep of the San Diego Padres.

Syndergaard didn’t throw more than nine pitches in any of his three innings of work and he retired all nine batters faced. That included picking up a pair of strikeouts. Syndergaard’s velocity topped out at 94 mph, which was a tick above what the right-hander got to in his 2023 Spring Training debut.

He exited with the Dodgers holding a comfortable 6-0 lead that was a result of a big second inning.

Following a Jason Heyward leadoff walk and Chris Taylor reaching on an error, Miguel Rojas broke up the scoreless tie with a two-run double. Freddie Freeman added a two-out RBI double, and run-scoring hit from Will Smith, Max Muncy and J.D. Martinez broke the game open.

It was a particularly encouraging development for Martinez, who entered the day with just one hit this spring. Muncy had also yet to get on track, and he finished 2-for-3 in the win against the Padres.

Rojas later added a solo home run as he continued swinging the bat well of late.

Dustin May picked up where Syndergaard left off, needing all of 15 pitches to get through his first two innings of work. The Padres didn’t break up the Dodgers’ perfect game until Jackson Merrill’s high chopper went for an infield single with one out in the sixth.

That wound up leading to some trouble as a walk and error allowed the Padres to load the bases. However, May got Matt Carpenter swinging to escape the inning unscathed.

Tayler Scott stranded a walk and double in the seventh inning, and Gavin Stone pitched a clean eighth that was bookended with strikeouts. Justin Bruihl entered in the ninth but came out due to an apparent injury after facing just two batters.

Jake Reed couldn’t preserve the shutout but he finished out the game to wrap up the Dodgers’ win.

2023 Dodgers Spring Training schedule

The Dodgers have their first off day of Spring Training on Tuesday, and will only play six consecutive days before another break on Tuesday, March 14.

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