Those iconic words of Dodgers Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully are music to the ears of every Dodger fan no matter what time of the year it is.

Sunday was a day that die-hard Dodger fans and the Dodger players themselves have been waiting for – the first Spring Training game of 2021 and the first actual game since winning the World Series on October 27, 2020, when the Boys in Blue secured a win after a 32-year championship drought.

Whether watching from home or fans lucky enough to catch the game in person at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, AZ as part of MLB’s mandated 20% reduced capacity, everyone can agree that it was great to hear the sounds of live baseball again.

The Dodgers opened their 2021 Cactus League season by playing seven innings against the Oakland Athletics. As the visiting team, right fielder Mookie Betts got to start the year off batting first with a Dodgers starting line-up of:

Left-hander Mike Kickham was the starter for Dodger Manager Dave Roberts‘ team, allowing no runs and only one hit in his two innings of work. The 32-year-old St. Louis, MO native and sixth-round draft pick by the San Francisco Giants in 2010 out of Missouri State University made his MLB debut with the Giants in 2013 and pitched through the 2014 season. He then spent the next several years pitching in the minor leagues, finally returning to The Show with the Boston Red Sox in 2020.

After his pre-arranged two innings of work, Kickham was followed by right-hander Edwin Uceta in the third inning, right-hander Dennis Santana in the fourth, left-hander Garrett Cleavinger in the fifth inning, right-hander Andre Jackson in the sixth, with righty Michael Grove closing out the scheduled seven-inning game for the Dodgers.

As is usually the case during Spring Training games, the starters were swapped out to give others on the team a chance to showcase their skills. Most of these changes occurred in the fourth and fifth innings as follows:

The first to get on base for the Dodgers was first baseman Matt Beaty with a sharp infield single to A’s third baseman Chad Pinder in the top of the second inning. He almost came in to score when Dodgers third baseman Edwin Rios lined a single to right but was tagged out at home on an outstanding throw from A’s right fielder Buddy Reed.

The Dodgers’ first run came in the top of the third inning, when second baseman Zach McKinstry singled to center, followed by a walk to Dodgers centerfielder DJ Peters. With one out, Dodgers shortstop and 2020 World Series MVP Corey Seager lined a single to center, allowing McKinstry to score easily, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.

After exiting the game in the fourth inning, Dodgers left fielder AJ Pollock spoke with reporters (via Zoom) and had this to say about the 25-year-old McKinstry:

“McKinstry, that guy can absolutely flat-out rake. We saw that in Spring Training, and we know we’re going to have him – I don’t know when – but he’s going to be a contributor for sure.

“He’s just got a really, really advanced approach at the plate. His swing, it’s definitely going to play in the big leagues because it’s just so compact; it’s consistent. He’s got a really, really calm demeanor. You don’t see him getting too rattled, too up or down. He’s just super consistent. I’m excited for him. He’s a good dude, and his bat’s definitely going to play in the big leagues.”

Los Angeles held on to their 1-0 lead until Oakland brought in a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Twenty-six-year-old Dodgers left-hander Garrett Cleavinger immediately got into trouble with a leadoff walk to A’s left fielder Mark Canha, with his pinch-runner, former Dodger minor leaguer Cody Thomas, eventually coming around to score to make it a 1-1 game. Clevinger’s troubles continued when he got himself into a bases-loaded jam until Oakland’s third baseman Vimael Machin lined out to Dodger third baseman Sheldon Neuse (pronounced “Noisy”) to end the inning.

Matt Davidson, LA’s designated hitter for the day, took back the lead with the Dodgers first Spring Training home run in the top of the seventh inning; a monster solo shot to left-center field off of A’s right-hander Argenis Angulo, to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead and eventual final score. Davidson’s blast may have been the first of the Spring for the Dodgers, but it definitely won’t be the last.

Davidson is quite a versatile and unique player. During his postgame interview, Roberts told reporters that the 29-year-old Yucaipa, CA native, whom the Dodgers signed as a free agent on February 17 and is a non-roster invitee, can play first base, third base … and can pitch.

“He’s in the mix [for a roster spot]; a guy, right-handed bat off the bench, he can play third, he can play first,” Roberts said. “He’s open to the idea of logging some innings out of the ‘pen. He’s got the good arm with the openness, willingness. Threw a pen the other day, ball came out good. So he just gives us that versatility.”

Who knew.

In five MLB seasons, Davidson has appeared in six games as a pitcher – all in relief – with no record, but with an impressive 2.84 ERA in his combined 6.1 innings pitched.

Dodgers right-hander Michael Grove came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh inning and retired the side in order with two strikeouts for the save.

If the name Michael Grove sounds familiar to you, it well should. The 26-year-old Wheeling, WV native was selected by the Dodgers in the second round of the 2018 draft out of West Virginia University and spent the 2019 season with the team’s (then) Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes as a starter. He spent the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season at the Dodgers alternate training site at USC.

“I thought guys threw really well; they all did,” said Roberts of his six pitchers used in the Spring Training opener. “Really good run today. Good showing for the pitchers.”

Fans can definitely use the distraction from everyday life. Even if it is just the first of what figures to be many wins this year, it was a great feeling to have baseball back after the winter break. Better yet, as the defending World Series champs, they are poised and ready to “run it back” for another championship bid!

  *  *  *  *  *  *