The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs met for the second time in Spring Training, with Los Angeles taking the first meeting at Sloan Park on March 8. The matchup between the two elite National League teams was cause for a sellout at Camelback Ranch, which was the Dodgers’ third sellout of the spring.
Brandon Beachy received the start, after originally being scheduled to take the hill in the other split-squad game against the Seattle Mariners. Alex Wood, who was originally scheduled to start against the Cubs, was scratched due to left forearm tightness.
Although Beachy allowed a leadoff double to Ben Zobrist, his up and down Spring Training would continue as he battled out of the inning. Beachy retired Addison Russell and Kris Bryant on fly balls, then issued a two-out walk to Miguel Montero.
The Dodgers right-hander got out of the inning unscathed as Jorge Soler grounded out. Trevor Cahill retired Carl Crawford, Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig in order in the bottom of the first.
Willson Contreras hit a one-out ground-rule double beyond Puig’s reach in the second inning. Contreras advanced to third base on a flyout to right field, but was stranded as Juan Perez grounded out to end the inning.
The Dodgers got their offense in the bottom of the second inning. Chase Utley hit a one-out triple in left-center field, which was nearly caught by Albert Almora on a diving attempt. Cahill didn’t do himself any favors as he walked Austin Barnes, and allowed Utley to score on a wild pitch.
Barnes went first to third base on the wild pitch, then scored on Cahill’s second wild pitch of the inning. Beachy tossed a 1-2-3 third inning to keep the Dodgers lead at 2-0. He finished his night of work with three shutout innings, two hits allowed, one walk and one strikeout.
CONTINUE READING: Dodgers rally in 9th inning for walk-off win
Micah Johnson led off the bottom of the third with a single, only to be thrown out soon after attempting to steal second base. Cahill proceeded to retire the next two batters faced. Joe Blanton took over in the fourth, and walked Jorge Soler with one out and gave up a two-out base hit to Contreras.
Nothing came of it as Almora grounded into a force out to end the inning. Utley lined a single to left-center field in the bottom of the fourth, but was picked off first base with Austin Barnes batting for the third out.
Blanton worked around a one-out walk in the fifth to toss his second scoreless inning of relief. Barnes led off the bottom half of the inning with his second home run in as many games and third of the week, extending the Dodgers’ lead to 3-0.
Chris Hatcher was the next Dodgers reliever to appear in the game, and he quickly set the Cubs down in order in the sixth. With Luis Avilan pitching the seventh, Contreras lined a leadoff double down the right field line.
A Perez one-out RBI single cut the Dodgers’ lead to 3-1 before Avilan managed to get out of the inning. Former Dodgers pitcher Stephen Fife retired Gonzalez, Utley and Barnes in a scoreless seventh inning.
Jamey Wright entered in the eighth and quickly found himself in trouble. The Cubs opened the inning with back-to-back singles, leaving runners on the corners with no outs. Wright walked the bases loaded and later walked in a run with one out.
The Cubs tacked on another via a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3. The tie didn’t last long as Charlie Culberson reached second base on a throwing error. He then scored on Brandon Hicks’ RBI single to left field, despite the ball beating Culberson home by a mile.
Dustin Richardson allowed a two-out single, followed by a two-run homer that gave the Cubs a 5-4 lead. Edgar Olmos entered in the bottom of the ninth and issued a leadoff walk to Willie Calhoun.
Kyle Farmer followed with a base hit, putting the tying and go-ahead runners on base with no outs. Jordan Tarsovich dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position with one out. Cody Bellinger then walked to load the bases with one out.
Frank Batista replaced Olmos and walked the tying run in. Batista continued to battle control issues and went to a full count against Hicks only to hit him with a pitch, giving the Dodgers a 6-5 walk-off win.