Sunday, February 25, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
A gorgeous Sunday afternoon at Camelback Ranch, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Oakland Athletics 4-to-2.
Kyle Hurt started for the Los Angeles Dodgers and impressed again. In the 2023 season, Hurt made his major league debut against the San Diego Padres. He retired all six batters to face him. Today, Hurt was equally impressive when he retired all three Athletics to face him. Hurt may have the best stuff in the Dodger organization.
Evan Phillips made his Cactus League debut on Sunday. He figures to get the closing assignments for the Dodgers in 2024. Although he allowed a single, he pitched well during the second inning.
In the second inning, James Outman blasted his first home run of the spring. The Dodgers will rely on Outman to play a good defensive center field and produce offensively.
Alex Vesia made his second outing of spring training and pitched better despite allowing a double.
Benony Robles, who spent the 2023 season in high A, issued a walk but pitched a scoreless fourth inning.
Chris Taylor, a new father, had a good day with a single and a walk. Since the Dodgers have left-handed outfielders, Taylor figures to see time in the outfield against left-handed pitching.
Max Muncy socked a two-run homer. Since Muncy lost fifteen pounds during the offseason, he looks great and should have a big year.
Ryan Brasier, a projected integral part of the Dodger bullpen, struck out the side in the fifth.
Will Smith had his first single of the spring.
Ricky Vanasco, a non-roster invitee, pitched a perfect sixth.
While most baseball-knowledgeable people believe the Dodgers will go to the World Series this season, no one thinks the Athletics will be successful this season. The Oakland franchise is looking for a new home for their major league team in the 2025 season. Their ownership doesn’t want to spend any money on the team. The Athletics, a historical baseball franchise, are poorly run. Definitely, they need a new home instead of the Oakland Coliseum, a huge football stadium. Watching from afar, it is a sad situation involving the Athletics. Although the Tampa Bay Rays are in a similar situation as the Athletics, needing a new stadium to draw more attendance, the Rays are better at recognizing good talent than the Athletics.
