The Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the Cincinnati Reds for the first and only Spring Training meeting between the two clubs this year. After concluding Cactus League play on Wednesday, the Dodgers will face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in a three-game series from March 31-April 2.
Kenta Maeda was on the hill for his fifth start and looking to build on the five sharp innings he tossed in his previous outing. Former Dodgers prospect Jose Peraza hit the first of two fly outs, then Maeda ended the first inning by striking out Joey Votto looking.
Alfredo Simon also retired the side in order in the first, picking up one strikeout in the process. Maeda remained perfect in the second inning as he set Adam Duvall, Jay Bruce and Scott Schebler down in order.
Scott Van Slyke led off the bottom of the second with a single, but had a mental lapse and was doubled up on an A.J. Ellis pop up. Simon then struck out Rob Segedin to end the inning.
Ivan De Jesus Jr. reached on an error to open the third, which was followed by a Tucker Barnhart base hit that put runners on the corners with none out. The Dodgers committed another error, with it allowing a run to score and the Reds to take a 1-0 lead.
Maeda limited the damage by retiring the next two batters faced. Charlie Culberson drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the third and was moved into scoring position on Maeda’s sacrifice bunt. Carl Crawford’s RBI single to center tied the game before Simon managed to get out of the inning.
CONTINUE READING: Kenta Maeda has longest Spring Training outing from Dodgers starting pitcher
Bruce knocked a one-out single in the fourth, but later was caught stealing to end the inning. Simon retired Trayce Thompson, Chase Utley and Van Slyke in order in the bottom of the inning.
Maeda issued a one-out walk in the fifth, but otherwise struck out the side. Ellis was hit by a pitch to open the bottom of the fifth and he advanced into scoring position on a Simon wild pitch.
That’s as far as Ellis reached though, as he was stranded by Segedin, Austin Barnes and Culberson. Maeda gave up a pair of consecutive one-out base hits to Votto and Duvall, then was replaced by Luis Avilan as part of a double switch.
Maeda’s 5.1 innings pitched were good for the longest outing from a Dodgers starting pitcher this spring. Avilan walked Bruce to load the bases, then gave up a bases-clearing double to Schebler that put the Reds ahead, 4-1.
Maeda was charged for two of the runs, closing the book on him with three total runs (two earned) allowed. De Jesus Jr. followed Schebler’s extra-base hit with an RBI single, Barnhart added an RBI double and the Reds took a 6-1 lead to the bottom of the sixth.
The Dodgers cut into their deficit behind a Crawford RBI groundout and Utley two-run home run. Yimi Garcia, who had been hampered by a sore left knee, made his first appearance since Monday. He struck out Tyler Holt and Votto before allowing a two-out base hit to Seth Meijas-Brean.
Left-hander Alex Burgos replaced Garcia, but Bruce got the better of the matchup by driving an RBI double off the left field fence. Elian Herrera hit a one-out single and took second base on a Ross Ohlendorf balk.
Rico Noel’s flare single to right field put runners on the corners with one out. A Tim Locastro sacrifice fly cut the Reds’ lead to 7-5 through seven innings. Pedro Baez worked around a one-out single in the eighth to toss a scoreless inning of relief.
Devan Ahart led off the bottom of the eighth with a slicing double to left field. He advanced to third base on a Dayan Diaz wild pitch. Mike Ahmed then drew a walk to put the tying runners on the corners with none out.
Andrew Toles’ sacrifice fly pulled the Dodgers within one run. That was as close as they would get in their 7-6 loss to the Reds.