The Chicago White Sox handed the Los Angeles Dodgers a 7-2 loss at Camelback Ranch on Saturday in spring training play. Despite Ryan Fitzgerald's 1-for-2 with an RBI effort at the plate, the Dodgers could not overcome a sizable deficit. Justin Wrobleski worked 2.1 innings on the mound, allowing 5 earned runs on 4 hits. The Sox out-hit the Dodgers 10-6 on the day. The loss is a minor bump as the Dodgers continue fine-tuning ahead of Opening Day. The exhibition season is about preparation, and today provided the kind of reps the coaching staff needs to see.
Key Performers
Ryan Fitzgerald was the top performer at the plate, going 1-for-2 with an RBI. His consistent contact set the tone for the lineup. The Dodgers will be hoping for more of the same as the spring continues.
Zach Ehrhard provided support, going 2-for-3 with a triple, Andy Pages also contributed, going 1-for-3, and Max Muncy chipped in, going 1-for-2. The Dodgers showed flashes of offense but could not piece together the big inning they needed.
On the other side of the diamond, Tristan Peters led the Sox offense with a 1-for-2 with three RBI day. Lenyn Sosa also contributed, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Edgar Quero added a 1-for-3 with an RBI effort as well. The Sox offense proved to be too much for the Dodgers pitching staff to contain on this particular day.
On the Mound
Justin Wrobleski took the loss after running into trouble, working 2.1 innings while allowing 5 earned runs on 4 hits with three strikeouts. He threw 68 pitches in the outing. The coaching staff will review his performance as they continue mapping out the pitching plan for the regular season.
The bullpen combined for 5.2 innings of work, allowing 2 earned runs while striking out six. The Dodgers continue to sort through their relief options as they build their Opening Day bullpen. Every inning pitched in the spring is an opportunity for pitchers to make their case for a spot on the roster when the games start counting.
Among the relievers, Dilan Figueredo stood out with 0.2 innings of 1-run work, striking out two. It was an impressive showing that could factor into roster decisions.
How It Happened
Sox got on the board first with three runs in the second inning. Sox pushed across three runs in the third. The Dodgers struck back with a run in the sixth. The Dodgers added a run in the seventh. Sox responded with a run in the seventh. The Sox were able to score in three separate innings, keeping the pressure on throughout the contest. Sox out-hit the Dodgers 10-6, with 2 errors committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 10,009 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
Despite the result, the Dodgers will take the lessons learned from this game and move forward. Spring training is about preparation and evaluation, not wins and losses, and the coaching staff gained valuable information about the roster today. There is still time to make adjustments before the regular season begins, and games like this one are part of that process.