The Dodgers picked up 2014 right where last season left off—dashing the rival Diamondbacks‘ hopes and dreams on their home field. Only this time, the “home field” was in front of thousands of Australian fans at Sydney Cricket Ground.
Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu teamed up to pitch the Dodgers past Paul Goldschmidt, Mark Trumbo and the D’Backs in a two-game sweep that looked very much like a World Series contender crushing a team still stuck in spring training.
In the first game, Kershaw twirled a masterpiece and Scott Van Slyke provided the power in a 3-1 win. Game 2 saw an early 7-0 lead for the Dodgers turn into a 7-5 win after a shaky bullpen performance made it interesting late.
But, the Dodgers flew home winners with a very premature two-game lead in the NL West and unlimited bragging rights in hand. Not everyone’s March will end on a happy note, though, even for the winners. Here are three players who “won” in Sydney, and three who “lost” and may be sent packing for the Dodgers.