The Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers squared off at Sloan Park on Tuesday for the first of two 2016 Spring Training meetings. Clayton Kershaw made his second start, while Kyle Hendricks was on the bump for his first Cactus League start this year but second appearance overall.
Hendricks tossed three scoreless innings against the Dodgers, allowing two hits and collecting two strikeouts. Both hits were singles in the first inning — by Yasiel Puig and Andre Ethier — though Hendricks left runners on the corners by striking out A.J. Ellis looking.
Kershaw fanned one batter in the bottom of the first and struck out the side in the second, to work around a Shane Victorino base hit and Taylor Davis walk.
Chicago managed to get to the Dodgers’ ace in the third behind a trio of one-out singles. Kris Bryant’s scored a run to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead before Kershaw could get out of the inning.
Los Angeles tied the game in the fourth inning, albeit needing some luck. With two outs and Andre Ethier standing on first base, Kiké Hernandez hit an RBI sun-triple to center field. The Dodgers took a 2-1 lead in the fifth behind a Rob Segedin leadoff double and Chase Utley two-out RBI single.
However, Bryant’s solo home in the bottom half of the inning tied the game. Both teams pushed one run across in the sixth, sending the game to the seventh tied at 3-3. The Dodgers proceeded to rally for three runs, capped off by Trayce Thompson’s two-run triple.
Los Angeles tacked on another run in the eighth and came away with a 7-3 win. Video highlights courtesy of Time Warner Cable SportsNet LA available below:
