The Dodgers' eight-month lengthy highway journey began with a bang on Thursday, scoring eight runs within the first inning of the primary sport of MLB's spring coaching schedule, a part of a 14-1 romp over the Padres in Peoria .
San Diego starter Joe Musgrove, the Padres' possible opening day starter on March 20 in Seoul, confronted simply 4 batters Thursday and retired none. A stroll, a single, and successful batter loaded the bases for Teoscar Hernández, who bounced one over the left-center fence for two runs in his first at-bat as a Dodger.
Three batters later, non-roster infielder Chris Owings bounced one over the wall in left subject for 2 extra runs. The final time the Dodgers hit a pair of doubles in the identical inning of a sport that counted was August 28, 2006, when Nomar Garciaparra and Jeff Kent did it within the fourth inning in opposition to ' to Reds starter Chris Michalak.
Kevin Padlo, a non-roster invitee who began at first base, is the reply to a trivia query, hitting the Dodgers' first residence run of 2024 spring coaching.
The primary time throughout the road produced eight runs for the Dodgers.
The early offensive outburst made leadoff hitter Mookie Betts his three plate appearances for the reason that high of the fourth inning, and his day was accomplished after 4 innings at second base. Betts began there 62 occasions final season, together with practically each sport there in opposition to right-handed pitching after the All-Star break.
Betts has received six Gold Gloves in proper subject, a place he has performed for greater than 9 years, and mentioned his offseason concerned a special lineup now that he’s the on a regular basis second baseman.
“I've been doing much more agility and people kinds of issues, simply to actually put together. In case you get on the sector, it's much more straight-line operating, however now I've bought to get my agility again and be athletic once more,” Betts advised Kirsten Watson in SportsNet LA in the course of the fifth inning. “Loads of intentional operating. Folks take the precise artwork of sprinting with no consideration, and I lose it. I haven't used it shortly, and I've misplaced it. I simply need to be one of the best model of Mookie that I may be “.
Somewhat later, Betts spoke to reporters in regards to the change in place.
Mookie Betts expects to play second base solely this spring coaching. He joked that he didn't put on the right-hander's glove. #Dodgers
– David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) February 22, 2024
#Dodgers Mookie Betts mentioned he didn't even put on his proper subject glove this 12 months. That glove has some gold on it.
“We're making an attempt to get second base as properly to get some.”
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) February 22, 2024
Gavin Lux was the designated hitter on Thursday, and he additionally struck out thrice. He singled, walked, and scored as soon as in his first sport again after tearing his ACL and spraining the MCL in his right knee 360 days ago.
Lux suffered that season-ending harm in 2023 in the course of the third sport of spring coaching, in the identical stadium, Peoria Stadium.
“It felt good to run and be a baseball participant once more, particularly to be again right here actually the place I blew it,” Lux advised reporters Thursday after his exit, as proven on SportsNet LA. “I don't suppose it actually mattered what subject I used to be going to be in. It was extra simply getting on the market, operating the bases, taking a swing and getting out of the field.
“It's been an extended 12 months. Simply being a baseball participant once more is one of the best factor I can ask for.”
Subsequent
The Dodgers and Padres are at it once more on Friday, this time at Camelback Ranch. Tomorrow's kickoff at 12:05 pm PT can be televised by SportsNet LA and ESPN. Landon Knack will begin on the mound for the Dodgers on Friday. Tyler Glasnow is slated to make his Dodgers spring debut Saturday in opposition to the Angels in Tempe.
