The Los Angeles Dodgers secured a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Fields of Phoenix on Monday in spring training action. Ryan Fitzgerald paced the offense, going 1-for-2 with an RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. Emmet Sheehan worked 2.1 innings on the mound, allowing 1 earned run on 2 hits. The Dodgers finished with 8 hits on the day while holding the Brewers to 6. The victory gives the Dodgers positive momentum heading into the final stretch of spring training. The coaching staff will look to build on the strong showing in the games ahead.
Key Performers
Ryan Fitzgerald was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 1-for-2 with an RBI. His steady bat was exactly what the lineup needed. Performances like this give the Dodgers confidence that the lineup is rounding into form.
Dalton Rushing also contributed, going 1-for-3 with an RBI, Seby Zavala chipped in, going 1-for-1 with an RBI, and Max Muncy added to the attack, going 2-for-3. The depth of production throughout the lineup was encouraging to see.
On the other side of the diamond, Jake Bauers led the Brewers offense with a 1-for-1 with a home run and an RBI day. Greg Jones also contributed, going 1-for-3 with an RBI. Ethan Murray added a 1-for-1 with an RBI effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Dodgers pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Emmet Sheehan got the start, struggling with his command, working 2.1 innings while allowing 1 earned run on 2 hits with two strikeouts. He threw 49 pitches in the outing. It was a useful learning experience as the Dodgers evaluate their pitching depth heading into the regular season.
The bullpen combined for 5.5 innings of work, allowing 2 earned runs while striking out eight. Spring training gives the coaching staff a chance to evaluate bullpen depth, and today was an encouraging showing from the relievers. Each reliever is auditioning for a roster spot, and innings like these factor into those decisions. Ryder Ryan recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Cody Morse stood out with 0.2 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. His performance was one of the day's bright spots from the bullpen.
How It Happened
Brewers got on the board first with a run in the second inning. The Dodgers struck back with a run in the third. Brewers answered with a run in the fifth. The Dodgers responded with a run in the seventh. The Dodgers pushed across two runs in the eighth. Brewers struck back with a run in the ninth. The Dodgers spread their scoring across three different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Dodgers out-hit Brewers 8-6 on the day, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 8,181 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
As the exhibition schedule nears its conclusion, the Dodgers can point to this game as a step in the right direction. The combination of solid pitching and timely hitting is exactly what the coaching staff hopes to see at this stage of the spring. The focus now shifts to maintaining this level of play with the regular season just around the corner.