{"id":34847,"date":"2020-07-21T03:39:02","date_gmt":"2020-07-21T07:39:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonbaseball.com\/?p=34847"},"modified":"2020-07-21T03:39:02","modified_gmt":"2020-07-21T07:39:02","slug":"dodgers-diamondbacks-20200720","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2020\/07\/21\/dodgers-diamondbacks-20200720\/","title":{"rendered":"Los Angeles Dodgers Rout Arizona Diamondbacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dodgers 12, Diamondbacks 1<\/strong><\/h2>\n

LOS ANGELES, July 20 \u2013 The Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a> continued to knock the ball all over the yard Monday night. They clubbed 15 hits, including four doubles and three home runs, en route to a 12-1 rout of the Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> in exhibition play.<\/p>\n

Early Lead for Diamondbacks, Dodgers Respond<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Julio Urias<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 the probable #3 in the starting rotation \u2013 started for the Dodgers, while Taylor Clarke<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 fighting for a bullpen spot \u2013 started for the Diamondbacks. Both teams managed to get one baserunner in the first, but neither scored.<\/p>\n

Designated hitter Ildemaro Vargas<\/a><\/strong> opened the scoring in the second with a tape-measure home run off the top row of the left-field bleachers. That lead, like the one Sunday night, was short-lived, however. The Dodgers responded with a vengeance in the bottom of the second, as a double by shortstop Corey Seager<\/a><\/strong>, a two-run homer by DH Joc Pederson<\/a><\/strong>, a walk by second baseman Chris Taylor<\/a><\/strong>, a single by catcher Will Smith<\/a><\/strong>, and a three-run homer by right fielder Mookie Betts<\/a><\/strong> made the score 5-1.<\/p>\n

Catcher Stephen Vogt<\/a><\/strong> said after the game that Clarke \u201clost command of his slider and changeup a little bit. He put himself in a couple of holes that he had to pitch his way out (of). It was two fastballs that kind of leaked over the middle of the plate in fastball counts. Major league hitters \u2013 especially those two guys, Betts and Pederson \u2013 (did) what they do to fastballs.\u201d He mentioned earlier that Clarke pitched very well in the first and fourth innings. Later, he added, \u201cTaylor threw a lot of quality pitches tonight. His curveball and fastball were very, very good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dodgers Turn Game into Rout<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The score remained 5-1 until the fifth, when Diamondbacks reliever Andrew Chafin<\/a><\/strong> had a nightmare of an inning. He opened the frame by walking first baseman Max Muncy<\/a><\/strong>. After third baseman Justin Turner<\/a><\/strong> flied to right, three straight singles, a two-run double, and a three-run home run followed. The singles came from center fielder Cody Bellinger<\/a><\/strong>, Seager, and left fielder A.J. Pollock<\/a><\/strong>. The double came from Pederson, and the homer came from Taylor. This made the score 11-1. It became 12-1 in the seventh, when Pollock led off against new pitcher Kevin Ginkel<\/a><\/strong> with a single. Two batters later, a double by Taylor drove in pinch-runner Terrence Gore to complete the scoring for the evening.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid Not Play Diamondback Baseball\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Manager Torey Lovullo<\/a><\/strong> said that \u201cthe pitching over the last couple of nights has not set a great tone for us.\u201d Lovullo indicated that they will use these two games as a learning experience, as anyone would expect. \u201cWe\u2019ll identify the things that we need to improve on; we\u2019ll continue to work and make sure we\u2019re ready for Friday.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although there were some good moments, Lovullo said, \u201cI can\u2019t sugar-coat it. We didn\u2019t play good baseball. We didn\u2019t play the way we could \u2013 we did not play Diamondback Baseball. I think these guys are going to understand what they have to do over the next three days to make sure that we\u2019re ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two Bright Spots<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Two off-season acquisitions had nice outings in relief for the Diamondbacks. H\u00e9ctor Rond\u00f3n<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 signed away from the Houston Astros in free agency \u2013 pitched a scoreless sixth. Jeremy Beasley<\/a><\/strong>, who came over from the Los Angeles Angels in the Matt Andriese<\/a><\/strong> trade \u2013 pitched a scoreless eighth. He struck out leadoff man Edwin Rios<\/a><\/strong>. After surrendering a single to Matt Beaty<\/a><\/strong>, he got Kike Hernandez<\/a><\/strong> to ground into an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play. Lovullo said that although he is not in competition for a spot on the team at this time, \u201cI was really encouraged by what I saw\u2026. He\u2019s not in our \u2018today\u2019 plan, but, certainly, we\u2019re excited about what he gave us today, and you might see him at some point during the year.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Diamondbacks will, thanks to the generosity of the Los Angeles Angels<\/a>, play an intrasquad game Tuesday in Anaheim. They will then continue to San Diego and play another intrasquad game Wednesday. After they take Thursday off, they will open the regular season Friday against the San Diego Padres<\/a>. Madison Bumgarner<\/a><\/strong> will pitch for the Diamondbacks against 24-year-old Chris Paddack<\/a><\/strong>, who will be the fourth-youngest Opening Day starter in Padres history.<\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>