J.D. Martinez had a game-high five RBI to help power the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 9-7 win over the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park. The win earned the Dodgers a Cactus League split with the Cubs.
The Dodgers trailed 1-0 until their lineup erupted for an eight-run fourth inning that saw the Cubs make two pitching changes. Up to that point Cubs starter Hayden Wesneski had allowed just one hit in what was shaping up to be a second consecutive dominant outing against the Dodgers.
However, momentum began to shift when Trayce Thompson’s leadoff walk was followed by a single from Max Muncy. Martinez then ambushed the first pitch he saw — a hanging breaking ball — for a go-ahead, three-run home run to center field.
The homer and extra-base hit were both firsts of the spring for Martinez, and a sign of what was to come.
Ryan Ward extended the Dodgers’ lead with an RBI single off Max Bain, and his troubles continued as Patrick Mazeika followed that by driving in a run on his own base hit, and Jason Heyward doubled to put L.A. up 5-1.
Bain was one out away from getting through the inning but walked Trayce Thompson to load the bases and then put Max Muncy on, bringing in a run.
A pitching change didn’t immediately stop the Dodgers’ momentum, with Martinez greeting Peyton Remy with a two-run double.
Because of the long inning, Ryan Pepiot was removed after going just three. He collected four strikeouts and held the Cubs to one run.
Although Pepiot exited with the Dodgers in total control of the game, Cody Bellinger and Cubs Minor Leaguers mounted a comeback bid.
Bellinger drove in a pair on a triple as part of Chicago scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, and after Miguel Vargas hit a solo home run in the seventh, Jacob Wetzel responded with a three-run shot.
Dodgers welcoming back Thompson, Freeman
Trayce Thompson started in center field and went 0-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored in his first game back from the World Baseball Classic.
Meanwhile, Freddie Freeman, who missed Team Canada’s final WBC game due to a minor hamstring injury, is expected to be in the Dodgers lineup Saturday and Sunday.
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