Behind a blend of contributions from prospects, regulars and Minor Leaguers whose stock is rising, the Los Angeles Dodgers hung on for a 6-5 win over the Cleveland Indians at Goodyear Ballpark.
Walks by Chris Taylor and Corey Seager were cashed in by Kiké Hernandez, who clubbed a towering home run to left field. Then in the third inning, a wild pitch with the bases loaded allowed Taylor to score, and Hernandez also came across when the toss back to home plate got away.
Austin Barnes’ double in the fifth inning was followed by an RBI single from Luke Raley, extending the Dodgers’ lead to 6-0. After missing the past three games because of forearm and biceps irritation, Taylor reached in all three plate appearances.
L.A. left the bases loaded in the sixth and were held off the scoreboard the rest of the way, but their pitching held up.
The effort began with Tony Gonsolin in what was his second Cactus League start of the year; no other pitcher on the Dodgers roster has made more than one. Gonsolin had full command of his splitter as he allowed just one hit and collected three strikeouts over two scoreless innings.
Gonsolin is believed to be under consideration for the final spot in the Opening Day rotation, though it’s one Alex Wood may have an inside track for.
Pedro Baez’s role in the bullpen is solidified, and he followed Gonsolin by stranding Francisco Lindor’s two-out double for a scoreless third inning. Edubray Ramos and Adam Kolarek each completed an inning to keep the shutout intact, but the Indians broke through against Tyler Gilbert in the sixth.
A pair of singles put two runners on and they scored when Jeren Kendall came up empty on his diving catch attempt in center field, resulting in a two-run triple for Domingo Santana. Tyler Freeman’s RBI groundout cut the Dodgers’ lead in half in the seventh inning, and Bobby Bradley’s two-run homer pulled the Indians to within a run in the eighth.
Cleveland stranded the tying run at first base in the bottom of the ninth inning.
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