The Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the Milwaukee Brewers at Camelback Ranch Monday afternoon, as Mike Bolsinger made his first start of the spring. The right-hander pitched in relief in his previous two appearances, but due to injuries may be in line for a spot in the rotation.
The Brewers sent Wily Peralta to the mound to make his third spring start. Bolsinger looked sharp in the first inning, retiring the Brewers in order while striking out one. Micah Johnson led off the bottom of the first with a single.
Then one batter later, Justin Turner, who was playing in his first Spring Training game after offseason knee surgery, drove him in with an RBI double. Austin Barnes caught some good fortune as he reached on an RBI infield, extending the Dodgers’ lead to 2-0.
That was followed by an Alex Guerrero ground ball that was booted by second baseman Colin Walsh. Trayce Thompson made the Brewers for it as he launched a three-run home run to left-center field.
After another perfect inning from Bolsinger, Peralta bounced back and retired the Dodgers in order in the bottom of the second. Ramon Flores broke up Bolsinger’s no-hitter with a one-out base hit in the third inning.
Nothing came of it however, as Bolsinger retired the next two batters faced. Turner led off the bottom of the third by drawing a walk. He quickly came around to score on an Adrian Gonzalez RBI double that extended the Dodgers’ lead to 6-0.
Jonthan Lucroy drew a walk in the fourth inning, which was followed by an Aaron Hill base hit to give the Brewers two on with one out. Both runners were stranded as Chris Carter flied out and Colin Walsh struck out swinging.
CONTINUE READING: Dodgers relievers allow two runs over final five innings
Bolsinger exited after tossing four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, issuing one walk and collecting two strikeouts. Peralta retired Charlie Culberson and Rico Noel in the bottom of the fourth, then was removed as he reached his pitch limit.
Hiram Burgos entered and promptly gave up a base hit to Johnson. Burgos then retired Yasiel Puig to keep the Brewers’ deficit at 6-0 through four innings. J.P. Howell took over for the Dodgers in the fifth and retired the Brewers in order.
Will Smith retired Rob Segedin, Gonzalez and Barnes to throw a scoreless inning of relief in the bottom half of the fifth. Kenley Jansen allowed a leadoff single to Domingo Santana, who then stole second base with one out.
Lucroy got the Brewers on the board with an RBI single before Jansen managed to get out of the inning. Pedro Baez worked around a two-out walk in the seventh inning to protect the Dodgers’ 6-1 lead.
Johnson hit a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh, and Cody Bellinger drew a two-out walk, but the Dodgers failed to capitalize. Louis Coleman replaced Baez in the eighth and retired the side in order.
Chris Anderson allowed a pair of singles and a run to score before recording the game’s final three outs to complete the Dodgers’ 6-2 win.