The Los Angeles Dodgers offense exploded Tuesday afternoon, as 12 hits and eight runs helped them beat the Oakland Athletics for the second consecutive day.
Chris Taylor got the scoring started early, as he launched a leadoff home run to center field, good first his first longball of the spring. Later in the inning, Cody Bellinger and Matt Kemp walked, setting up the stage for Yasiel Puig to drive them both home with a double off the center-field wall.
Yasmani Grandal followed with a double of his own to score Puig, capping off a four-run first inning for the Dodgers. Grandal continued his hot spring in the top of the third, as he hit his team-leading fifth home run, a solo shot.
Grandal is in the midst of a monster stretch, as he has 10 hits in his last 14 at-bats. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently named him the team’s starting catcher to begin the season.
The Dodgers capped off their eight-run day in the top of the fourth, as Kyle Farmer led off the inning with a double and then scored on a single by Corey Seager. Puig hit his second double of the game, scoring two to give him four RBI on the day.
Kenta Maeda and the Dodgers pitching staff also got the job done on Tuesday, as they limited Oakland to just two runs and five hits.
Maeda became the first Dodgers starter to pitch into the sixth inning this spring, although he did not record an out in the inning. Altogether he went 5-plus innings, giving up three hits and a run while striking out two and not allowing a walk.
