Oh sure, Friday night’s bottom-of-the-ninth 6-5 Dodgers walk-off win over the Anaheim Angels of Anaheim was just another “meaningless Spring Training game.” But for the 12,271 on hand at Camelback Ranch, and the millions more watching on SportsNet LA, they got to witness – yet again – why soon-to-be (on March 20) 59-year-old Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel is considered among the best in the game.

With one out and the Dodgers trailing the Halos 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth, and with runners on first and second, Dodgers left-handed-hitting designated hitter Dalton Rushing roped an opposite-field double down the left field line to easily scoring Dodgers left fielder Josue De Paula from second base to tie the game at 5-5. With Dodgers right fielder Ryan Ward approaching third under a full head of steam, Ebel gave Ward the four-fingers sign, instructing him to try for home with the potential game-winning run. As is usually the case with Dino Ebel, it worked – again.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that in his first game and first at-bat of the Spring, international superstar Shohei Ohtani hit an oposite-field solo home run to left field in the bottom of the first inning to give his team an early 1-0 lead.

“I think he can be as productive [as in 2024],” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Ohtani postgame. “I don’t think he’s going to get the same number of at-bats, plate appearances, given that he’s going to be pitching. I don’t think he’s going to steal as many bases, just appreciating the fact that he does need to pitch and saving his legs. But as far as kind of performance per plate appearance, I still think he can be just as productive. And I’m sure Shohei is expecting the same thing,” Roberts added.

Dodgers third baseman Tommy Edman also slugged his first home run of the Spring on Friday night, a two-out solo shot to right in the bottom of the fifth, which tied the game at 4-4; this following a second-inning grand slam home run by Angels center fielder Jo Adell off of 27-year-old Dodgers right-hander Dustin May making his Spring Training debut.

Play Ball!

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