The Dodgers showcased their offensive firepower with a stunning six-run sixth inning, ultimately defeating the Mariners 10-7 in a Cactus League matchup in Peoria on Friday night. Despite a late scare from the Mariners, who scored three runs in the ninth, the early cushion provided by the Dodgers was enough to secure the victory.
Under the warm Arizona sky, the Dodgers’ bats came alive, highlighted by three home runs. Teoscar Hernandez continued his strong spring, homering for the second consecutive game, while Kyle Tucker launched his first long ball in Dodger Blue. Additionally, James Tibbs III contributed with a three-run shot, marking his third home run of the spring.
Miguel Rojas set the tone early, leading off the game with a booming double to deep center field. Rojas capitalized on Seattle’s lackadaisical defense, stealing third base shortly after. Tucker then walked, paving the way for Hernandez’s three-run blast that put the Dodgers on the board before the first out was recorded.
Pitcher Knack began the game with a solid first inning, but faced a tougher challenge in the second. The 28-year-old, who was a second-round pick in 2020, is vying for a rotation spot with the Dodgers as he enters just his second big-league season. With Blake Snell sidelined due to injury and Gavin Stone dealing with shoulder issues, Knack is seizing the opportunity to make an impression during spring training.
Despite struggling in a previous outing against the Rockies, Knack showed promise in this game, striking out four batters over two innings. However, he also allowed three runs on three hits, including a two-run double by Rhylan Thomas and an RBI double from Brock Rodden that tied the game at 3-3.
Blake Treinen entered the game in the fifth inning with the score still tied. Though he walked the first two batters he faced, Treinen managed to navigate through the inning without allowing a run, using 30 pitches to maintain the stalemate.
The Dodgers broke the tie in the top of the sixth when Tucker hit a solo home run off reliever Robinson Ortiz. They extended their lead further with an infield single from Santiago Espinal and a force out from Nick Senzel that brought home Michael Siani. Tibbs III capped the explosive inning with his three-run homer, pushing the score to 9-3.
In the seventh, Ben Casparius struggled, walking two batters before being replaced by Matt Lanzendorfer, who made his Cactus League debut. Lanzendorfer walked two and allowed a run but also recorded his first strikeout in Dodger Blue.
Yency Almonte returned to the mound for the Dodgers in the ninth, seeking to close out the game. In a tense moment, Colt Emerson hit a three-run homer for the Mariners, narrowing the Dodgers’ lead. Despite a shaky performance, Almonte managed to secure the win, helping the Dodgers improve to 14-6 in Cactus League play.
Looking ahead, the Dodgers will face the White Sox for the final time this spring at Camelback Ranch. The game is scheduled to start at 1:05 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on SportsNet LA, featuring Justin Wrobleski on the mound for the Dodgers and Mike Vasil for Chicago.
Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.
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