Loser: Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins pitcher
Davis’s win had to be somebody else’s loss, and that somebody else turned out to be Alcantara. That’s a big deal because on paper at least Alcantara is the ace of the Marlins staff.
In his second spring appearance, Alcantara faced 13 batters and retired just five of them. The home run he gave up to Davis was one of five hits he allowed, and he also walked four batters.
His spring ERA now sits at 17.18, which even early in the spring is a bit high for an ace.
Loser: Taylor Clarke, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher
Following up on his brief 2019 major league experience, Clarke is a longshot to win a rotation spot either as a starter or – more likely – a long reliever. His performance Saturday does not help Clarke’s case.
In two and two-thirds innings against the Dodgers, Clarke took a consistent pounding. In the first inning, he gave up a single, a triple and a home run. The second inning produced two more singles, two doubles and three more runs.
That performance drove Clarke’s spring ERA for two appearances to 18.69.
Loser: Colorado Rockies offense
The Rockies hope to dethrone the Dodgers this summer. They got their chance against rising ace Walker Buehler Saturday, and did not appear up to the task.
In a 14-2 beat-down, Rockies regulars – who comprised most of the starting lineup – went hitless in 15 at bats. David Dahl is now off to a .182 start, Trevor Story and Nolan Arenado are batting .222, Charlie Blackmon is hitting .111 and Ian Desmond remains hitless.
Against Buehler, the Rockies went six-up-and-six-down with two strikeouts.
Loser, Yency Almonte, Colorado Rockies pitcher
It was hard to tell whether the Rockies offense had a worse day than Almonte, a fringe Rockies pitcher for two seasons who’s like to improve that standing in 2020.
Almonte entered the game in the fifth inning with one run in, one out and two Dodgers on base. At that moment the Dodgers led Colorado 2-0. But not for long.
The first batter Almonte faced, Corey Seager, walked to load the bases. Enriquez Hernandez followed with a two-run double, and before help arrived there followed two home runs, two doubles, a walk, a wild pitch and a single.
In one-third of an inning, Almonte was charged with six hits and eight runs, all of them earned. By the time he got to the dugout, Almonte’s 30.86 ERA was substantially higher than his chances of making the team.
Loser: Tanner Anderson, Oakland Athletics pitcher
A turbulent contest between the A’s and visiting Cleveland Indians didn’t turn on Anderson’s desultory sixth inning performance, but it sure could have.
Anderson is a non-roster invitee who’s had two brief major league stints, neither of which produced an ERA under 6.00. He entered Saturday’s game with Oakland carrying a 4-1 advantage into the top of the sixth.
Anderson faced seven hitters, six of whom slapped him around for a double and five singles. By the time Anderson was relieved, Oakland’s 4-1 lead had become a 6-4 Cleveland lead.
The A’s did come back to win 8-7, but that could have been very small consolation to Anderson.