Chris Taylor hit a go-ahead home run to spark the Los Angeles Dodgers in what turned into a 14-2 laugher over the San Diego Padres. The loss was San Diego’s fifth, as they entered the day with the best record in all of MLB Spring Training at 11-4.
Taylor’s home run was his second in Cactus League play but first since he was slowed by forearm and biceps irritation, and a sore shoulder. Taylor’s only other home run before Monday was in the Cactus League opener against the San Francisco Giants on Feb. 22.
His two-run blast in the sixth inning gave him three RBI on the day as he’d previously tied the game with a sacrifice fly.
Taylor’s home run was followed by Kiké Hernandez roping a double down the left-field line, and walks from Anthony Garcia and Austin Barnes to keep the inning alive. Edwin Rios then delivered a pinch-hit, two-run single.
Rios again batted with the bases loaded in the seventh, when he further added to the Dodgers’ lead with an RBI single. Terrance Gore’s three-run double blew the game open.
Gore, Rios and Taylor tied for a game-high with three RBI each.
After pitching in a Minor League game on a backfield at Camelback Ranch, Alex Wood took the mound for his third Cactus League appearance (second start) of the year. He was hurt by AJ Pollock losing a ball in the sun, resulting in a triple for Josh Naylor in the third.
Fernando Tatis Jr.’s RBI bunt single broke the scoreless tie, and Max Muncy’s error kept the inning alive, but Wood managed to limit the Padres to just one run. He collected four strikeouts over 3.1 innings of work.
Tony Gonsolin was among the pitchers the Dodgers used out of the bullpen, with the right-hander allowing just two hits and striking out three in 2.2 innings.
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