The Los Angeles Dodgers fell 14-13 to the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark on Thursday in spring training play. Despite Santiago Espinal's 2-for-2 with two home runs and six RBI effort at the plate, the Dodgers could not pull even when it mattered. Cole Irvin worked 3.0 innings on the mound, allowing 6 earned runs on 6 hits. Both clubs finished with 13 hits apiece in a closely contested battle. The Dodgers will look to regroup as spring training rolls on. There is still time to work through the rough patches before the regular season arrives, and the coaching staff will use today's performance as a learning opportunity.
Key Performers
Santiago Espinal was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two home runs and six RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Dodgers offense.
Max Muncy also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, Noah Miller chipped in, going 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, and Nick Senzel added to the attack, going 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI. Despite the individual efforts, the offense could not generate enough sustained production.
On the other side of the diamond, Nathaniel Lowe led the Reds offense with a 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI day. Matt McLain also contributed, going 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Rece Hinds added a 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBI effort as well. The Reds offense proved to be too much for the Dodgers pitching staff to contain on this particular day.
On the Mound
Cole Irvin got the start, having a rough go of it, working 3.0 innings while allowing 6 earned runs on 6 hits with one strikeout. He threw 43 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 5.0 innings of work, allowing 8 earned runs while striking out four. The relief corps kept the game within reach after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations.
Among the relievers, Carson Hobbs stood out with 1.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
The Dodgers struck first, pushing across a run in the first inning. Reds struck back with four runs in the first. Reds added two runs in the second. The Dodgers responded with four runs in the third. The Dodgers pushed across three runs in the fourth. The Dodgers plated three runs in the fifth. Reds answered with four runs in the fifth. The Dodgers responded with a run in the seventh. The Dodgers pushed across a run in the ninth. Reds struck back with four runs in the ninth. The Reds were able to score in four separate innings, keeping the pressure on throughout the contest. Both teams finished with 13 hits apiece, with 1 error committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 7,869 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
The Dodgers will regroup and get back to work in their next outing. While the final score was not in their favor, the exhibition season is about building toward the regular season, and this game provided useful reps for a roster still taking shape. The coaching staff will review the performance and make adjustments before the next time out.