9 totally different Dodgers scored of their 14-3 win over the Kiwoom Heroes to start out the exhibition portion of the Seoul Collection on Sunday afternoon in South Korea (Saturday night time in Los Angeles).
The Dodgers' first run of the highway journey got here fairly shortly, due to Freddie Freeman. The primary baseman threw a ball off the scoreboard down the appropriate discipline line for a house run.
Freeman virtually hit one other ball out to proper discipline within the fourth inning, however settled for a double off the wall. Within the seventh, Freeman additionally lined a dribbler down the empty third bottom line for an infield single, and likewise walked.
Ariel Jurado, the Panamanian right-hander who pitched elements of three seasons within the majors (2018-20) and led Kiwoom final season in begins (30), innings pitched (183⅔) and wins (11), was hit for 4 run. in his 4 innings of labor. The Dodgers scored in every of the primary three innings off Jurado, who walked 4.
However jury additionally he caught Shohei Ohtani swinging twice, which is a pleasant feather to have in his cap. When Jurado was with the Rangers in 2018-19, he held Ohtani to only a single and a double in 11 at-bats, with three strikeouts.
Ohtani solely hit these twice on Saturday/Sunday, which supervisor Dave Roberts beforehand stated was a part of the plan. To maintain the complete roster concerned, and on condition that it's nonetheless simply an exhibition, solely Freeman, Jason Heyward and Gavin Lux performed all 9 innings.
Heyward doubled twice, singled and drove in 4 runs. Lux doubled, simulated, and drove in a pair.
Freeman did his job, putting out seven occasions from the third spot within the batting order, because the Dodgers had 17 hits and 11 walks.
What aid?
Michael Grove bought the beginning on the mound in Saturday's exhibition, however this was actually a bullpen recreation for the Dodgers, who used seven pitchers to cowl the 9 innings. He did fairly nicely, retiring all six batters he confronted, with 4 strikeouts, all swinging, together with fanning all three batters within the second inning.
Grove was at the very least nominally nonetheless within the dialog for the fifth beginning spot to open the season, with Emmet Sheehan and Walker Buehler set to start out on the injured listing. However it seems that Grove's greatest path to an lively roster spot as soon as the video games tally could possibly be pitching in brief bursts out of the bullpen.
“Michael to have the ability to go one inning, two innings, three innings as a bridge man proper now makes loads of sense given the development of our pitching proper now,” Roberts instructed reporters throughout his pregame convention name on Saturday . “He's definitely a viable possibility within the pen for us to start out the season.”
With Grove probably within the bullpen, and excusing Kyle Damage and Landon Knack, already optioned, that leaves Gavin Stone because the clear favourite for a rotation spot to open the season as soon as the membership returns to Los Angeles. You may argue that Stone was already the favourite, whatever the plans for Grove.
“We now have Gavin constructed as much as 4 innings, probably 5,” Roberts stated earlier than Saturday's recreation. “If it goes nicely, we may see him in that fourth or fifth place.”
Damage, who may nonetheless be lively within the bullpen for at the very least the 2 common season video games towards the Padres, was spectacular in his personal proper. He retired all seven batters he confronted, closing out the sport with a flawless five-strikeout effort.
The Dodgers nonetheless challenge Kyle Damage as a starter, however Dave Roberts stated there's a “superb probability” he's an possibility of their bullpen when the season opens right here in Seoul in a few days
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) March 17, 2024
A brand new intro
Saturday night time marked the primary telecast of the yr for Joe Davis and Orel Hershiser, who opened their SportsNet LA broadcast with an opener recorded whereas standing on the sphere, just like the outdated NBC Recreation of the Week telecasts on Saturdays within the Nineteen Eighties.
I don't recall such a gap earlier than on a SportsNet LA telecast — the same old opening comes from the sales space, with the announcers dealing with the digicam with their backs to the sphere — however then once more I'm getting outdated and reminiscence fades. Whether or not new or not, it was a pleasant contact.
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Subsequent
The Dodgers have yet another exhibition recreation remaining, taking part in the Korean nationwide group on Monday night time in Seoul, which is Monday. morning at Los Angeles (3:07 a.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Bobby Miller will get the beginning for the Dodgers and will pitch 4 or 5 innings, and Stone may even pitch.
