Spring Training Recap: Grandal Shines, Dodgers Blow Lead In Tie
In their first full-squad road game of Cactus League play, the Los Angeles Dodgers wasted little time getting an early lead for Mike Bolsinger. Carl Crawford lined a one-out single off Cleveland Indians starter Corey Kluber to right field and stole second base on the first pitch to Adrian Gonzalez, who struck out swinging.
Yamani Grandal then broke the scoreless tie with a single over the second baseman’s head to score Crawford. With Howie Kendrick at the plate, Carlos Santana helped his pitcher out by picking off Grandal from first base to end the top of the first.
Making his spring debut, Bolsinger retired the side in order in the first inning and allowed a leadoff bloop single to Santa in the second inning. The former Dodger advanced to second base on a wild pitch and scored one sacrifice fly and two-out single later to the tie the game.
Bolsinger ended the inning and his day by getting Jerry Sands to fly out to center and the game remained tied at 1-1 headed into the third. Scott Schebler continued his hot spring with a lead off single in the third inning, however he was stranded as Darnell Sweeney popped-out and Jimmy Rollins grounded into a double play. Chad Gaudin came in to replace Bolsinger and tossed a scoreless inning.
With Zach McAllister on the mound for the Indians in the fourth, Crawford fouled a ball off his shin and was tended to by trainer Stan Conte and manager Don Mattingly. Crawford remained in the game, but his at-bat ended on a strikeout. Grandal then broke the tie with an opposite field solo home run, adding validation to the notion he’s recaptured his swing.
Gaudin worked around a leadoff hit to strike out the side for his second strong inning. A walk by Ethier & a hit by Uribe put the Dodgers in position to strike. Sweeney would get the job done with a sacrifice fly to put the team up 3-1. Left-handed Minor-Leaguer Jeremy Horst tossed a scoreless inning in the fifth.
CONTINUE READING: Would Grandal Continue His Big Day?
Grandal showed good power with opposite field home run and good back control and patience in his first at bat driving in a run on a good pitch. Guererro continues his hit hitting and looked OK in Left. I think he sticks or is traded as he can hit and that is always valuable.
We should hang on to him. We are gonna need the offense.
Matt Shelton showed he can throw very impressive hanging curves and is not smart enough to stop throwing hanging curves even if they hit the first one out of the State!