mlb

Dodgers divide and conquer across the country

Joe Rondone / The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Dodgers played two split-squad games and multiple players competed in the World Baseball Classic.

Between split-squad spring training games and players competing in the World Baseball Classic, the Dodgers were spread out in the baseball world today.

Julio Urías and Austin Barnes played for Mexico in their game at Chase Field. Both contributed decently despite their team’s defeat to Colombia. Urías was the starting pitcher, and he was perfect through four innings before allowing three runs in the fifth. In total, he struck out six and threw 62 pitches in five innings of work.

Barnes tallied two hits as Mexico’s starting catcher, including a clutch double in the ninth when he represented the go-ahead run. There was a bit of a scare in the fifth inning when a spiked curveball rode up underneath Barnes’ mask behind the plate. Play was stopped for a moment as he caught his breath, and Barnes was able to stay in the game.

Over in Florida at Miami’s LoanDepot Park, David Peralta played a huge role in Venezuela’s upset win over the talent-loaded Dominican Republic. Batting ninth, Peralta went 2-3 with three RBI, including an early two-out single that chased 2022 NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcántara from the game. Venezuela won 5-1, thanks in large part to Peralta reaching base three times.

In the night game at Chase Field, Mookie Betts and Trayce Thompson faced off as members of team USA and Great Britain respectively. Betts led off and went 1-5 in the United States victory. His lone hit was a ground ball single up the middle in the fifth.

Thompson fared better in terms of personal performance. He opened the scoring in the game with a solo homer off Adam Wainwright in the first inning. Thompson added a second hit when he doubled in the third inning. Although his contributions were not enough for Great Britain to upset the United States, Thompson led Great Britain’s lineup in hits.

In normal spring training action, the Dodgers played two games. Using split-squad rosters, they hosted the Cubs at Camelback Ranch and visited the Giants in Scottsdale.

Noah Syndergaard started the Cubs game and had a good outing. He went 4 1/3, striking out four and only allowing one run that came on a solo homer. He didn’t issue any walks, keeping his total at zero for all four of his appearances. Syndergaard has posted a 0.96 ERA through his first 9 1/3 innings of the spring.

Alex Vesia gave up two solo homers and only recorded two outs before exiting the game. After that, Jimmy Nelson, Caleb Ferguson and Evan Phillips all threw scoreless innings. James Outman‘s second homer of the spring and an RBI single for Hunter Feduccia were the only two Dodgers runs in the game as they lost 5-2.

The Dodgers offense fared much better in the Giants game, where they tallied 13 runs in a victory. They homered four times, with long balls coming from Luke Williams, Devin Mann, Steven Duggar and Buddy Reed. It was a four RBI day for Duggar, who showed out against his former team. Miguel Vargas went 2-4 with a double.

Brusdar Graterol threw a scoreless inning for the fourth time this spring. Shelby Miller and Yency Almonte, who was making his spring debut, both allowed two earned runs in their appearances. Miller now has a 16.88 ERA in three spring appearances.

Tomorrow, Dustin May is scheduled to start against the Reds. In the World Baseball Classic, Freddie Freeman will play his first WBC game of the year for Canada against Thompson’s Great Britain while Betts and Barnes face off in the United States-Mexico game. Lastly, Peralta will be back in action for Venezuela as they take on Puerto Rico.

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