The Los Angeles Dodgers came from behind for the second consecutive day and tied their longest winning streak of Spring Training this year at three games by defeating the Cleveland Guardians, 11-4.
Guardians starter Zach Plesac struggled from the outset, as the Dodgers loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning and scored the tying run on a wild pitch. Michael Busch then put L.A. ahead with an RBI single that also temporarily chased Plesac from the game.
He returned in the second inning and wound up getting through the third, exiting with the Guardians ahead 3-2. For Busch, it represented a second consecutive game with an RBI. He remains a dark horse candidate to possibly earn the final spot on the Opening Day roster.
The Dodgers quickly found success against the Cleveland bullpen, first with Miguel Rojas’ RBI groundout tying the game in the fourth inning.
Max Muncy followed that with his first home run of the spring, a two-run drive to right field that put the Dodgers up for good.
The Dodgers put together another three-run inning in the fifth thanks to Hunter Feduccia’s RBI single with the bases loaded and Jonny DeLuca’s two-run hit.
The Dodgers had their third inning with three runs in the seventh behind a home run from Eddys Leonard and Jahmai Jones’ RBI double.
With the caveat of the World Baseball Classic taking several key players out of camp, Dodgers RBI leaders this spring are Feduccia (nine), Freddie Freeman (eight), James Outman (eight), DeLuca (six) and Jorbit Vivas (five).
Dodgers lineup picks up Michael Grove
The Dodgers offense breaking out helped offset what was Michael Grove’s shakiest outing of Spring Training thus far. He was removed during a long second inning before returning to the game and ultimately allowing three runs.
Grove’s 2.2 innings pitched represented a regression from the three frames completed last week, and the five hits allowed are his most in four Cactus League starts.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently acknowledged Grove and Ryan Pepiot are under consideration to fill the void in the Opening Day rotation should Tony Gonsolin not recover from a sprained left ankle in time.
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