Dodgers Recap: Pitching shuts down M’s as Dodgers win third straight

CAMELBACK RANCH, AZ — It was the Dodgers’ first “home” game of their Cactus League schedule on Monday, and the team didn’t disappoint the fans there for the opener. They got solid pitching for nine innings, holding the Seattle Mariners to just four hits while the Dodgers got ten of their own en route to a 3-0 victory.

The name that got RBIs on the scorecard is not a household one: Alex Freeland. The Dodgers’ infielder, who saw limited action on the big club last season, nevertheless might be one to watch this spring. With Tommy injured to start the year, he figures to be in a head-to-head matchup with Hyeseong Kim (who went 1-for-4 in this one) for playing time at second base. Freeland’s ringing opposite field double to the right field corner helps his case considerably.

Now, on to the pitching. Landon Knack opened up the game, throwing a scoreless frame. Then, some of the rookies that made such an impact last year took the ball. Jack Dreyer and Ben Casparius both shut down the Mariners’ bats in their inning of work, followed by the return of Kyle Hurt, who hasn’t pitched for the Dodgers since early 2024, having spent the better part of the last two seasons on the Injured List. It was only fitting that Hurt got the win in this one, after being “hurt” for so long.

But perhaps the high point of the day came in the top of the fifth inning, when Alex Vesia took the mound. It was his first appearance since he had to leave the team in the middle of October to be with his family as wife Kayla and he navigated losing her infant daughter Sterling. Dodger fans, knowing full well what he’s been through the last few months, greeted the lefty will a standing ovation as he made his emotional return.

“It’s been hard, actually. Hard in a good way,” Vesia said in a postgame interview. “Because I want to interact with the fans and all that, but I know I have a job to do. Even on the backfields the first day, we walk out the doors and [there are] cheers and lots of love. It means a lot to myself, and Kay, too.”

As for the other regulars that we’re likely to see on the opening day roster, Teoscar Hernandez went hitless in two at-bats, Andy Pages went 2-for-3, and Dalton Rushing went 1-for-3. Pages has looked particulary good so far, raising his OPS to 1.834 over the first three Cactus League games. I don’t put too much stock in that small sample size, but after the horrible October, it has to feel good for Pages to get out of the blocks fast.

Spring Training games continue on Tuesday at noon PST with a matchup at Camelback against the Cleveland Guardians, who continue to be relevant in the NL Central through the use of smoke and mirrors. For Dodger fans, it will be notable in that it marks the return of Gavin Stone, another young pitcher who spent all of last year on the IL. Hopefully, these young pitchers (Hurt, Stone, River Ryan) can reclaim their old form and add to the Dodgers’ already impressive depth at the position.

See you next time!

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