Big innings have defined the first weekend of Dodgers spring training games so far. Sunday included a four-run third inning that fueled a 5-1 win over the San Diego Padres in Peoria.
Will Smith got the scoring started with an RBI single in the third inning, one of his two hits, and non-roster infielder Nick Senzel hit a two-run double to score both Smith and newcomer Kyle Tucker in his Dodgers debut. Senzel doubled twice against San Diego.
Josue De Paula added an RBI single in the ninth inning to cap the scoring, but some trouble getting to a few balls in and around left field.
Scoring on Sunday wasn’t as prevalent as Saturday in Tempe, when the Dodgers had innings of three, six, and four runs in a rout of the Angels. But then again, they didn’t need much offense on Sunday, thanks to a bevy of arms throttling the Padres bats.
Jackson Ferris started and worked around a walk and single for a scoreless first inning. Chris Campos struck out two in a perfect third inning.
Will Klein pitched a clean, 10-pitch second inning, one of two Dodgers on the 40-man roster to pitch in this one.
Ronan Kopp’s first spring training game as a member of big league camp came on the anniversary of his first major league spring training game last year. The left-hander appeared in two games up from the minor league side of camp last spring, both in February. This time, after getting added to the 40-man roster in November, Kopp on Sunday allowed a two-out double then committed a throwing error on what would have been an inning-ending groundout in the eighth.
That was the only run allowed by the Dodgers all game. In all, nine different Dodgers pitchers combined to allow five hits and three walks in the win, with just the one unearned run.
Up next
After two road games, the Dodgers play on their home field of Camelback Ranch with a game against the Seattle Mariners on Monday (12:05 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Landon Knack starts for the Dodgers, with Logan Gilbert on the mound for Seattle.
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