Walker Buehler made what could be considered a successful 2019 Cactus League debut but the Los Angeles Dodgers took a 4-2 loss to the Cleveland Indians, who won all three Spring Training meetings this year.
Buehler went into the night with a limit of completing three innings or throwing 45 pitches. He was somewhat shaky in the first, allowing consecutive singles, but settled in to strand both runners.
Buehler then struck out a pair in a 1-2-3 second inning, and was removed after giving up a two-out base hit to Tyler Naquin in the third. Buehler threw 46 pitches and was one strike away from getting through the third inning.
Yimi Garcia promptly allowed back-to-back base hits upon taking over for Buehler, which gave the Indians a 1-0 lead.
The Dodgers erased their deficit one inning later, with A.J. Pollock and Russell Martin each hitting a solo home run. It was a welcomed sign for Martin, as he missed time earlier this spring because of lower back discomfort that was a result of overworking himself in the batting cage.
However, J.T. Chargois coughed up the lead when he issued a leadoff walk and followed it by surrendering a two-run homer to Eric Haase that proved to be the difference in the game.
