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Spring Training Recap: Freddie Freeman, Will Smith Hit Home Runs In Dodgers’ Tie With Padres

Matthew Moreno
3 Min Read
Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports

The San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers traded home runs en route to a 5-5 tie at Camelback Ranch. The tie was the Dodgers’ fourth in eight Cactus League games thus far.

After a chopper up the middle got by Gavin Lux and Trea Turner for a leadoff single in the first inning, Austin Nola connected on a two-run home run that gave the Padres an early lead. Julio Urias then surrendered a leadoff homer to Jorge Alfaro in the second inning.

Setting the home runs aside, Urias did finish with four strikeouts over two innings. He felt generally pleased with pitches and noted allowing homers during Spring Training is preferred to doing so in the regular season.

Heralded Dodgers prospect Ryan Pepiot was first out of the bullpen, and he enjoyed a bounce-back performance after struggling a bit in a start against the Seattle Mariners. Pepiot issued a walk but otherwise kept the Padres off the bases in his two innings of work. Pepiot struck out three.

Victor Gonzalez also had an encouraging relief appearance that saw him retire the side in order, complete with two strikeouts. Michael Grove and Carson Fulmer also worked a clean inning each and combined for three strikeouts.

Freeman achieves first with Dodgers

Freddie Freeman immediately got the Dodgers on the board with a solo home run in the first inning that fittingly was hit to the opposite field. The homer was Freeman’s first with the Dodgers, and his wife Chelsea noted it came on a night that his father and grandfather were in attendance.

The team then went quite for a prolonged stretch as they were held without a hit until Max Muncy’s one-out single in the sixth inning. That was followed by Will Smith tying the game with a two-run homer, his second of Spring Training.

After the Padres took a 5-3 lead in the eighth inning, Devin Mann tied it in the bottom half with a two-run homer.

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Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com