Dodgers – Indians Spring Training Live Game Thread

The Dodgers are in action again today, this time against the Cleveland Indians with Alex Wood on the mound. Stay tuned on this thread and get the conversation going in the comments as the game goes along.

As the game isn’t being televised or simulcast on the radio, we’re able to embed the video right into here. Shoutout to Eric Stephen and Ron Cervenka for the tip!

ICYMI: Dodgers’ Top Prospects May Get Early Call Due to Rotation Injuries

We’ll provide updates as the game goes along, in case you miss anything along the way.

Howie Kendrick was a late scratch in this one, with a sore leg. This is a bummer as it would’ve been nice to see how he might’ve done in his innings at third base in almost a decade.

First Inning

The Dodgers’ defense extends the inning and, instead of a one-zero lead (that came off a solo shot), the Indians take advantage with a three-run bomb to left. They’ve dug themselves an early hole and trail four-none, heading to their half of the first.

The Dodgers worked to get a couple runners on with two outs, but nothing comes of it. Grandal grounds out to short on a hit he seemed capable of beating out, but not quite.

Second Inning – Dodgers trail 4-0

The Indians scramble to get another run in the top half of the second. It’s been one of those days…

The Dodgers go down on three lazy fly balls and we head to the third.

Third Inning – Dodgers trail 5 – 0

Yimi Garcia comes in to pitch and turns the Indians away in order with a little help from Charlie “Babe Mantle” Culberson.

In the Dodgers’ half, Corey Seager gets his first hit of the spring with a double down the right foul line. Nothing comes from it, though, and the deficit stays at five. 

Fourth Inning – Dodgers trail 5 – 0

Beachy in to pitch, and he gets through the inning with only a base hit. No runs scored and the Dodgers could really use a rally.

They don’t get one, unfortunately, and still trail by five. The hitters are making contact, just not very solidly and often in the direction of a nearby fielder.

Fifth Inning – Dodgers trail 5 – 0

Beachy stays in and puts down the Indians, giving up only a walk. The inning ends by Grandal throwing up said runner at second as he tried to steal. The dude sitting by the camera disagreed with the call.

Charlie Culberson continues his complete and utter dominance this spring with a three-run homer. The Dodgers would again get two on with no outs, but a flyball to right from Gonzalez and poor jump from Pederson kills the momentum. Still, the Dodgers cut the lead to only two.

Sixth Inning – Dodgers trail 5 – 3

A few well-placed hits and another error lead to two more runs for the wrong team. J.P. Howell’s first action of the spring did not go as he would’ve hoped.

Rob Sedegin drives in a run on a double to left to cut the lead to three, but gets stranded on third.

Seventh Inning – Dodgers trail 7 – 4

Kenley Jansen in to pitch. he struggles early in the inning, giving up two doubles in a row and allowing a run, but settles down and retires the rest of the side in order from that point on.

In the Dodgers’ half, they do wind up plating a run, but don’t get anything else despite having runners on second and third with one out.

Eighth Inning – Dodgers trail 8 – 5

Louis Coleman comes in and pitches quite well. Can’t imagine right-handed hitters are going to fare very well against him with that wind-up of his.

Ninth Inning – Dodgers Trail 8 – 5

Ian Thomas is in for the final frame of the afternoon. The Indians get nothing, bringing up the Dodgers.

Unfortunately, the Dodgers would get nothing going in the bottom of the ninth and they take their first loss of the spring.

Analysis:

The biggest “concern” (if you can have one so early in the spring) has been the Dodgers’ defense. They have not been very steady and Monday afternoon, it finally resulted in a loss. This will need to be cleaned up, and fairly quickly.

It was great to see Joc and Seager look a lot more comfortable at the plate. Let’s hope they can build on this as the spring moves along.

Alex Wood can put some blame on the defense behind him, but giving up two homers in as many innings isn’t ideal.

Thus ends the quest for a completely undefeated season, unfortunately.