Julio Urias had another strong outing and Austin Barnes added to his torrid production this spring as the Los Angeles Dodgers stormed to an 8-2 comeback win over the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium.
It was tough sledding for the Dodgers against Jeff Samardzija, who allowed just one hit, issued two walks and effectively used his changeup to strike out four over three scoreless innings. Mark Melancon failed to replicate that, however, allowing the Dodgers to rally for three runs.
An error to start the fourth inning didn’t do Melancon any favors, but he compounded it by allowing singles to A.J. Pollock and Chris Taylor. Kiké Hernandez’s fly ball to right field dropped in, allowing Cody Bellinger to score when Pollock was forced out at third base.
Barnes’ base hit drove in a team-leading sixth RBI this spring and gave the Dodgers a lead they never relinquished. Joc Pederson added a sacrifice fly before Melancon could escape the inning. Taylor’s RBI double in the fifth extended that to 4-1.
The hitting barrage continued in the sixth and seventh innings, with Cameron Perkins adding an RBI double, Omar Estevez hitting an RBI double and Paulo Orlando driving in a run with a base hit. Then in the eighth, Edwin Rios clubbed a solo home run.
Hopeful to pitch his way into the Dodgers’ Opening Day rotation, Urias added to his case with an impressive outing. His only blemish in two innings of work was a solo home run surrendered to Evan Longoria in the second inning.
Through two Cactus League starts, Urias has retired nine of 10 batters faced and recorded four strikeouts across three innings pitched. Whether he’s with the Dodgers come Opening Day could very well hinge on how Clayton Kershaw continues to recover from left shoulder inflammation.
