San Diego 11, Dodgers 9: Justin Turner and Joc Pederson homer
Highlights from the Dodgers’ 11-9 loss to the San Diego Padres:
AT THE PLATE: Justin Turner experienced an eventful fifth inning. In the top of the inning, he hit a solo home run, his third of the spring. In the bottom, he was spiked on the left calf on a slide at third base. Turner stayed in the game, but the team removed him for the top of the sixth. “They took me out for precautionary reasons,” Turner said. “They wanted to take me out during the inning, but I said no.” Turner insisted he was fine. Joc Pederson hit his second home run of the spring.
ON THE MOUND: Luis Avilan may be pitching his way back to the minor leagues with his performance this spring. He gave up a three-run home run Tuesday and his Cactus League earned-run average is 11.57. The team could option him to triple-A Oklahoma City and use J.P. Howell as their sole left-handed reliever. Manager Dave Roberts can sense Avilan’s unease on the mound. “You can see it, the look in his eye, the lack of confidence,” Roberts said. “You’ve got to have that confidence to be able to make a pitch when you need to and execute a fastball, a changeup.”
EXTRA BASES: Louis Coleman gave up his first two runs of the spring in the sixth inning after allowing a leadoff single, a run-scoring double and a sacrifice fly. Coleman still looks like a solid bet to make the opening day roster. Roberts said the team had not officially determined whether Coleman would join the bullpen, but he has been one of the most consistent performers this spring.
UP NEXT: Cleveland on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Camelback Ranch. On the air: None.
— Andy McCullough
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