GLENDALE, Ariz. — Mookie Betts drove in the go-ahead run with a one-out sacrifice fly to center in the fifth inning, and the Dodgers added two sloppy two-out runs in the seventh to beat the Cubs 4-2 in their home spring opener at Camelback Ranch. The Cubs fell to 1-1 in Cactus League games.
Gone viral? Manager David Ross missed a second consecutive day of practice and games because of a flu bug the Cubs say is severe enough that it might keep him out into midweek. Bench coach Andy Green, the former Padres manager, is filling in.
Catching heat: One day after catcher Willson Contreras launched the Cubs’ spring with a monster home run at Sloan Park, catcher Victor Caratini slugged another one to right-center for a short-lived 1-0 lead Sunday. Caratini doubled in his other at-bat.
K zone: Caratini’s first-pitch homer made him the only Cub to reach base in a 15-batter stretch against six Dodger pitchers from the end of the first through the first batter of the sixth. Seven of those 14 retired struck out. In fact, after Ian Happ singled with one out in the sixth to become the second Cub to reach base since the first inning, Dodger pitching retired the next six Cubs – including two more Ks.
Fifth element: Fifth-starter favorite Tyler Chatwood faced four batters during a scoreless first inning, going to a 3-0 count on leadoff man Betts before retiring him on a fly ball, giving up an ensuing single to Corey Seager, inducing a grounder from Justin Turner that turned into an error/interference call at first and then getting an inning-ending double play from AJ Pollock. Longshot candidate Colin Rea – last year’s Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year – added two scoreless innings after Chatwood, allowing one hit.
On deck: Cubs at Mariners, Peoria, Arizona, Monday, 2:10 p.m., MSN, Adbert Alzolay vs. Marco Gonzales.
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