Dodgers suffer first loss in Cactus League play, roughed up by Giants
THE GAME: The San Francisco Giants hit two home runs, including a grand slam by Victor Bericoto, and handed the Dodgers their first loss in Cactus League play, 12-4, on Friday afternoon at Scottsdale Stadium.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “This was a dud,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after watching the Giants collect 14 hits. “We didn’t pitch particularly well.”
HITTING REPORT: The Dodgers sent a lineup to Scottsdale that included just one player expected to be on the season-opening roster (Dalton Rushing) and two others who are competing for a spot on the major-league roster (Alex Freeland and Santiago Espinal). … The Dodgers were held to seven hits, including an RBI triple by James Tibbs III and two doubles by Zach Ehrhard – both were acquired from the Boston Red Sox in the trade for Dustin May last July. Espinal drove in a run with a single and is 4 for 9 this spring. Chris Newell hit a two-run home run.
PITCHING REPORT: Yoshinobu Yamamoto completed his second Cactus League assignment and will now join Team Japan to prepare for the World Baseball Classic. Yamamoto gave up a home run to the first batter he faced, Willy Adames, and another run in the second inning. He threw 52 pitches and completed three innings, allowing five hits and striking out four. … Ryder Ryan gave up a run on three hits in his inning. … The Giants scored nine times in the fifth and sixth innings against Dodgers minor-leaguers.
UP NEXT: Dodgers split squad (LHP Jackson Ferris) at Rangers (RHP Jack Leiter) at Surprise Stadium, Saturday, 12:05 p.m. PT, and Cubs (RHP Colin Rea) at Dodgers split squad (LHP Justin Wrobleski), Camelback Ranch, Saturday, 12:05 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA, 570 AM