The Los Angeles Dodgers stormed out to a big lead before hanging on late for a 9-7 win over the Chicago Cubs, with the likes of J.D. Martinez, Jason Heyward and Miguel Vargas among those contributing at the plate.
Martinez had the biggest day of the bunch as he finished with a game-high five RBI, all of which came in the fourth inning.
With the Dodgers trailing 1-0, Martinez slugged a three-run home run to center field for his first extra-base hit of Spring Training. The Dodgers went on to bat around in the inning, and Martinez added a two-run double.
Among other hits sandwiched between Martinez’s was an RBI double from Heyward. He finished 2-for-4 in his first game against the Cubs since being released by the organization last year.
.@JDMartinez28 gives us the lead💥 pic.twitter.com/TQ9xpxiice
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) March 17, 2023
Okay, Jason! RBI Double!😎 pic.twitter.com/MBZwWRyqiY
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) March 17, 2023
Miguel! Vargas! pic.twitter.com/aCYu7qV7xC
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) March 17, 2023
The Dodgers’ 8-1 lead was cut into in the bottom of the sixth inning on Cody Bellinger’s two-run triple and a sacrifice fly by Eric Hosmer.
Miguel Vargas then provided some insurance with a solo home run in the seventh. The homer was Vargas’ first of the spring and wound up holding as beneficial breathing room.
Jacob Wetzel hit a three-run homer off Rubby De La Rosa in the bottom of the seventh but the Cubs never drew any closer.
Dodgers monitoring Pepiot
Ryan Pepiot held the Cubs to just one run over three innings before being removed from the game. That was partly due to the long inning the Dodgers had at the plate in the fourth, but manager Dave Roberts revealed Pepiot experienced some side discomfort that the team does not believe is serious.
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